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The Legacy of Moonset #1
Moonset
The sins of the parents fall to the children.
Justin and his siblings grew up in the shadows of their parents' crimes. They saw first-hand the people who were hurt and killed by the Moonset coven. Now in high school, Justin and his siblings have struggled under an environment designed to hold them down. The little magic they're taught is heavily restricted, and they're forced to cobble together spells out of novelties while their peers learn to harness the raw power of magic.
All of that comes crashing down when the teens are relocated to Carrow Mill, New York where a disciple of Moonset has seemingly set up shop, and the warlock's only demand is the return of the Moonset heirs to their rightful place. The covens hope to use Justin and the others as bait to draw out the warlock, or perhaps as a sacrifice caught in the crossfire. Neither option bodes well for Justin, who finds his own thirst for power growing.
Justin must find a way to protect his family from both sides of a resurging war, as well as unravel the secrets of his parents' history, or they may follow in the steps of Moonset... right into the grave.
Justin and his siblings grew up in the shadows of their parents' crimes. They saw first-hand the people who were hurt and killed by the Moonset coven. Now in high school, Justin and his siblings have struggled under an environment designed to hold them down. The little magic they're taught is heavily restricted, and they're forced to cobble together spells out of novelties while their peers learn to harness the raw power of magic.
All of that comes crashing down when the teens are relocated to Carrow Mill, New York where a disciple of Moonset has seemingly set up shop, and the warlock's only demand is the return of the Moonset heirs to their rightful place. The covens hope to use Justin and the others as bait to draw out the warlock, or perhaps as a sacrifice caught in the crossfire. Neither option bodes well for Justin, who finds his own thirst for power growing.
Justin must find a way to protect his family from both sides of a resurging war, as well as unravel the secrets of his parents' history, or they may follow in the steps of Moonset... right into the grave.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2013
12 people are currently reading
1374 people want to read
About the author
Scott Tracey
19 books462 followersScott wrote his autobiography at age six, and its all been downhill since then. He traveled the country on a Greyhound for a month, devoted a semester of school to starting a series of urban legends, and spent five years perfecting how to say "would you like fries with that" for a short story. Or so he claims.
If you would like to get in touch with me, please go here to my website. I cannot guarantee a response to any mail sent through Goodreads.
If you would like to get in touch with me, please go here to my website. I cannot guarantee a response to any mail sent through Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
March 29, 2013
4.5 stars
Moonset was once an ordinary coven. Not remarkable in any one way till something set them on the path to darker magic which continued to crave unstoppable forbidden powers. They started a war, became terrorists that lead to hundreds of deaths. They were a feared unstoppable force. Then one day they simply surrendered. No one knows why, maybe it was momentary clarity that freed them from the dark forces. But being quickly tried and executed, their plans were never revealed.
However, they did leave something else behind...
Malcolm, Justin, Jenna, Cole and Bailey. The children of Moonset. They will always be reminded of the sins of their parents and branded by an unbreakable curse that sets their fate as one. Something or someone is coming. Will the Moonset children be evil's second-coming? Or can they rise above and escape their tainted bloodline?
Wow! I had so much fun with this book!
This would be my first book by Scott Tracey, but it wont be my last. Tracey's writing is smooth, sharp and confident and has the perfect blend of magic and madness. I was easily absorbed from the first page till the very last. It's been a long time since I enjoyed magical element in my escape to this extent, but it also has a little bit of everything else I love. Mystery, suspense, wicked idea and wonderful imagination and even a touch of romance to make me smile.
Moonset is told in Justin's point of view which I absolutely loved. Not only do I adore male characters pov's but Justin has one of those voices that is easy to connect with instantly. He's got a great sense of humor, looks out for his family and glues you to the pages throughout the entire story.
His twin sister, and the only one related to him by blood, Jenna on the other hand is a really piece of work. Attention seeker, stubborn, frustrating, bratty, always stirs up trouble. You know the kind. Someone you'd love to slap or watch someone put her in place. I can't say that I loved her, but she's got sharp wit and I found her colorful dialog to be most entertaining, plus, you can't deny she loves her family.
As for the rest of the 'adopted' siblings, I liked them a lot as well. Malcolm is the eldest and relies more on his physical strength then magical spells. Cole is funny and fearless while Bailey is the youngest, she's sweet, pixie-like and very much protected.
Together these are the teenagers of Moonset and they have so much weight on their shoulders that I'm amazed they can even walk straight. To be viewed and judged solely by the actions of what their parents did in the world before their death must be both exhausting and excruciating. But through it all they look out for each other, being each others family and friend. I love their bond, their connection, their humor, their banter and overall good nature despite everything. They are a wonderful cast of character that have you invested the minute you meet them and they will make you want to see it through till the very end.
The concept and story line has a good mixture between a healthy dose of gathered information about the history and magical aspect and the full force of what that magic has planed for this group of misfit teens.
There are a handful of adult/guardians that, quite frankly I never cared for. Other then Quinn (he was cool) they all seemed very judgmental, unfair and full of themselves despite there good intentions.
This also has very little romance, which the sap in me would usually complain about, but to honest the story line was so busy you don't even miss it. What we did get was cute though. The minute I met Ash, I knew we were gonna get along just fine. She's a fun, witty, fiery characters that's a bit odd but there is a kind of twinkle in her personality that I found infectious.
All in all, I had a great time with this book. You can tell that Scott Tracey took his time in this world filling it with action and adventure and so much magic. The fun kind, complete with titles and spells and creatures and a history that made this universe unique, intriguing and fascinating. There is a lot to process but the way it's told felt easy to absorb everything this book has to offer. It also leaves us on a good note, but I'm still really looking forward to seeing where Tracy will take these characters next!
A very well done fun filled adventure fit for fans who is looking for a fresh twist in their magical escape!
Loved it! Next!
Moonset was once an ordinary coven. Not remarkable in any one way till something set them on the path to darker magic which continued to crave unstoppable forbidden powers. They started a war, became terrorists that lead to hundreds of deaths. They were a feared unstoppable force. Then one day they simply surrendered. No one knows why, maybe it was momentary clarity that freed them from the dark forces. But being quickly tried and executed, their plans were never revealed.
However, they did leave something else behind...
Malcolm, Justin, Jenna, Cole and Bailey. The children of Moonset. They will always be reminded of the sins of their parents and branded by an unbreakable curse that sets their fate as one. Something or someone is coming. Will the Moonset children be evil's second-coming? Or can they rise above and escape their tainted bloodline?
Wow! I had so much fun with this book!
This would be my first book by Scott Tracey, but it wont be my last. Tracey's writing is smooth, sharp and confident and has the perfect blend of magic and madness. I was easily absorbed from the first page till the very last. It's been a long time since I enjoyed magical element in my escape to this extent, but it also has a little bit of everything else I love. Mystery, suspense, wicked idea and wonderful imagination and even a touch of romance to make me smile.
Moonset is told in Justin's point of view which I absolutely loved. Not only do I adore male characters pov's but Justin has one of those voices that is easy to connect with instantly. He's got a great sense of humor, looks out for his family and glues you to the pages throughout the entire story.
His twin sister, and the only one related to him by blood, Jenna on the other hand is a really piece of work. Attention seeker, stubborn, frustrating, bratty, always stirs up trouble. You know the kind. Someone you'd love to slap or watch someone put her in place. I can't say that I loved her, but she's got sharp wit and I found her colorful dialog to be most entertaining, plus, you can't deny she loves her family.
As for the rest of the 'adopted' siblings, I liked them a lot as well. Malcolm is the eldest and relies more on his physical strength then magical spells. Cole is funny and fearless while Bailey is the youngest, she's sweet, pixie-like and very much protected.
Together these are the teenagers of Moonset and they have so much weight on their shoulders that I'm amazed they can even walk straight. To be viewed and judged solely by the actions of what their parents did in the world before their death must be both exhausting and excruciating. But through it all they look out for each other, being each others family and friend. I love their bond, their connection, their humor, their banter and overall good nature despite everything. They are a wonderful cast of character that have you invested the minute you meet them and they will make you want to see it through till the very end.
The concept and story line has a good mixture between a healthy dose of gathered information about the history and magical aspect and the full force of what that magic has planed for this group of misfit teens.
There are a handful of adult/guardians that, quite frankly I never cared for. Other then Quinn (he was cool) they all seemed very judgmental, unfair and full of themselves despite there good intentions.
This also has very little romance, which the sap in me would usually complain about, but to honest the story line was so busy you don't even miss it. What we did get was cute though. The minute I met Ash, I knew we were gonna get along just fine. She's a fun, witty, fiery characters that's a bit odd but there is a kind of twinkle in her personality that I found infectious.
All in all, I had a great time with this book. You can tell that Scott Tracey took his time in this world filling it with action and adventure and so much magic. The fun kind, complete with titles and spells and creatures and a history that made this universe unique, intriguing and fascinating. There is a lot to process but the way it's told felt easy to absorb everything this book has to offer. It also leaves us on a good note, but I'm still really looking forward to seeing where Tracy will take these characters next!
A very well done fun filled adventure fit for fans who is looking for a fresh twist in their magical escape!
Loved it! Next!
Read
April 28, 2017I really enjoyed this one. I'd devour book two right away if I already own it. Will have to come back for a full review.
April 11, 2013
Moonset follows the trials and tribulations of the Children of Moonset; an infamous coven of witch terrorists that brought chaos to the world. Needless to say, the magical community (that walk among the normal and teach their children in special ‘independent study’ classes) fear these remnants of one of the darkest periods in their history. The five siblings are moved around, tracked, traced and held back from more powerful magic as there is legend and myth surrounding their capabilities and no-one trusts them, they fear they may bring the second coming of Moonset.
When the family is moved following a rather unsavoury misadventure in their school, they are once again mysteriously carted off to a new town. It soon appears that what found them may be worse than they thought and there could be some very dark magic at work.
In Carrow Mill, the children of Moonset discover more and more about their confusing and complex family histories and the fact that this may not be another randomly chosen destination.
Scott Tracey writes my kind of books! I love his characterization. Justin, the lead of the five children is fiercely protective of his family and the most vulnerable when it comes to the implications of his parents’ actions. The way we get to know Justin is really interesting and it is clear from the start that people have always underestimated him. While his other siblings seem to have their own particular ‘thing’, something they are associated with, be it a behavior, trait or talent, Justin is quietly fascinating. As a reader, we can sense he has greater purpose.
The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger which will divide some readers, but, I have to admit, I kind of don’t mind a cliffhanger if the author writes in such a way that means I would automatically be sucked into a follow up anyway and Tracey does!
The way Tracey handles magic, good and bad in this book is my ideal. This is magic with edge. I have been drawn to this book even in e-reader format (and I am a paperback junkie, so this is important people!)
I would recommend this book to anyone seeking a fresh take on witches. Scott Tracey is an author I cannot wait to read more from.
When the family is moved following a rather unsavoury misadventure in their school, they are once again mysteriously carted off to a new town. It soon appears that what found them may be worse than they thought and there could be some very dark magic at work.
In Carrow Mill, the children of Moonset discover more and more about their confusing and complex family histories and the fact that this may not be another randomly chosen destination.
Scott Tracey writes my kind of books! I love his characterization. Justin, the lead of the five children is fiercely protective of his family and the most vulnerable when it comes to the implications of his parents’ actions. The way we get to know Justin is really interesting and it is clear from the start that people have always underestimated him. While his other siblings seem to have their own particular ‘thing’, something they are associated with, be it a behavior, trait or talent, Justin is quietly fascinating. As a reader, we can sense he has greater purpose.
The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger which will divide some readers, but, I have to admit, I kind of don’t mind a cliffhanger if the author writes in such a way that means I would automatically be sucked into a follow up anyway and Tracey does!
The way Tracey handles magic, good and bad in this book is my ideal. This is magic with edge. I have been drawn to this book even in e-reader format (and I am a paperback junkie, so this is important people!)
I would recommend this book to anyone seeking a fresh take on witches. Scott Tracey is an author I cannot wait to read more from.
April 9, 2013
I like Scott Tracey's WITCH EYES, so I wanted to read the start of his new series. It is chock full of things I love like small towns with secrets, people with secrets, a closely bound found family, black magic, and a protagonist who has a lot to learn. (That applies to both his magic skills and talking to girls.) As soon as I finished this book, I had to express my happiness with it on Tumblr. I don't do that for every book.
Each chapter begins with a short quote revealing more of the history of Moonset. The Moonset coven was talented and respected until one day they turned to terrorism. All that is left of them now is five children and rumors of member Cullen Bridger's survival. Those five children - Justin, Jenna, Malcolm, Cole, and Bailey - are bound together. They literally cannot separate. They travel together across the country, moved from school to school when they reveal their powers and risk exposure. It happens pretty often since Jenna likes to act out. After all, they're left untrained and discriminated against because of something that happened when they were babies. Things change when the kids are sent to Carrow Mill. Unlike other places they've lived, many of the residents are witches themselves. And there are even more sore feelings because Carrow Mill is where Moonset started.
Now, MOONSET is not a perfect novel. There may be five siblings but the book is all about Justin. It's about his growth as a leader and growing disillusionment with the witches in power. I'm fine with the book having focus and not being overstuffed, but it doesn't give the siblings much of a chance to show how important to each other they are. Cole in particular drops out of the story quite often. It's a bit more tell than show. And given that part of the mystery of Moonset has to do with how the coven's history is perceived, it would be nice to see the siblings' perception of the various reveals throughout the novel. But this is the start of a series, so perhaps subsequent books will focus more on Jenna, Malcolm, Cole, and Bailey.
There is more development given to Ash, the one and only love interest. She starts off very typical - the assertive, quirky girl to Justin's socially awkward boy. But by the end of MOONSET I liked the relationship. They go on several dates, and I always love when the romance plotline shows the characters getting to know each other, and they also reassess each other as they learn more. Some of the revelations about Ash are obvious, but she still ended up being more than she seemed in her introduction.
What really drives MOONSET is the plot rather than the characters. There's a warlock lose in Carrow Mill and he (or she) is probably after Moonset 2.0. Then there's the mystery of just why the original Moonset went bad. If Justin can figure out what happened, maybe he can prevent it from happening again. (Because of course, even though they try not to believe it, the siblings have spent their lives absorbing that their guardians thing they're inherently evil.) Yet he tends to discover more questions than answers. There is definitely a lot to uncover as the series unfolds.
Basically, I found MOONSET to be a really fun read. I was excited to read the next book when I finished, no matter that it won't be out for a year. I liked Justin quite a bit and would like to spend more time reading about him (and his siblings) doing things. I want to unravel the secrets of Moonset. Tracey pulled off a few real surprising revelations, so I think he continue to pull off a plot-driven series. Paranormal fans looking for something without vampires or love triangles should enjoy MOONSET.
Each chapter begins with a short quote revealing more of the history of Moonset. The Moonset coven was talented and respected until one day they turned to terrorism. All that is left of them now is five children and rumors of member Cullen Bridger's survival. Those five children - Justin, Jenna, Malcolm, Cole, and Bailey - are bound together. They literally cannot separate. They travel together across the country, moved from school to school when they reveal their powers and risk exposure. It happens pretty often since Jenna likes to act out. After all, they're left untrained and discriminated against because of something that happened when they were babies. Things change when the kids are sent to Carrow Mill. Unlike other places they've lived, many of the residents are witches themselves. And there are even more sore feelings because Carrow Mill is where Moonset started.
Now, MOONSET is not a perfect novel. There may be five siblings but the book is all about Justin. It's about his growth as a leader and growing disillusionment with the witches in power. I'm fine with the book having focus and not being overstuffed, but it doesn't give the siblings much of a chance to show how important to each other they are. Cole in particular drops out of the story quite often. It's a bit more tell than show. And given that part of the mystery of Moonset has to do with how the coven's history is perceived, it would be nice to see the siblings' perception of the various reveals throughout the novel. But this is the start of a series, so perhaps subsequent books will focus more on Jenna, Malcolm, Cole, and Bailey.
There is more development given to Ash, the one and only love interest. She starts off very typical - the assertive, quirky girl to Justin's socially awkward boy. But by the end of MOONSET I liked the relationship. They go on several dates, and I always love when the romance plotline shows the characters getting to know each other, and they also reassess each other as they learn more. Some of the revelations about Ash are obvious, but she still ended up being more than she seemed in her introduction.
What really drives MOONSET is the plot rather than the characters. There's a warlock lose in Carrow Mill and he (or she) is probably after Moonset 2.0. Then there's the mystery of just why the original Moonset went bad. If Justin can figure out what happened, maybe he can prevent it from happening again. (Because of course, even though they try not to believe it, the siblings have spent their lives absorbing that their guardians thing they're inherently evil.) Yet he tends to discover more questions than answers. There is definitely a lot to uncover as the series unfolds.
Basically, I found MOONSET to be a really fun read. I was excited to read the next book when I finished, no matter that it won't be out for a year. I liked Justin quite a bit and would like to spend more time reading about him (and his siblings) doing things. I want to unravel the secrets of Moonset. Tracey pulled off a few real surprising revelations, so I think he continue to pull off a plot-driven series. Paranormal fans looking for something without vampires or love triangles should enjoy MOONSET.
March 15, 2013
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Moonset by Scott Tracey was a wonderful surprise! I picked up this book on a whim after reading the blurb and I am really glad I did. It had a really intriguing premise and was a great setup for this new trilogy. I can't wait to learn more about Moonset and its secrets and to see how the characters continue to grow.
Justin Daggett and his "siblings" are witches. Their parents were all members of the same coven, Moonset, that committed atrocities against the witch Congress. After the coven is killed, Justin and the other children are taken in by the Congress and are passed from guardian to guardian to be raised. They are feared and looked down upon because the entire witch community thinks they will one day turn dark like their parents. Justin is out to prove everyone wrong and to learn the secrets behind the Moonset coven's fate.
Justin, his half-sister Jenna, oldest Malcolm, youngest Bailey, and middle-child Cole are the children of Moonset. The are considered siblings because they are protected by a curse that will not allow then to be separated or put into danger. Justin and Jenna are the only two actually related as they share the same father. The children have grown up together and think of one another as their family, but they have also developed into their own coven.
Justin had a wonderful narrative voice and I enjoyed learning the Moonset secrets from his perspective. He was funny, smart, and loved his family to a fault. Though Justin is younger than both Mal and Jenna, he is looked upon as the leader and is the one everyone else depends on. Maybe it's because most YA books seem to be written from a female perspective, but the use of Justin's perspective felt like a breath of fresh air. He was slight dorky and awkward, but it made him easy to connect with him.
The other siblings were very different from Justin. Jenna was a raging bitch monster most of the time; I'm talking complete mean girls stereotype. It made it hard to like her very much, but she did have her softer moments occasionally. Malcolm as the oldest and largest is more of a physical protector. He and Justin had a good rapport and I'm interested to learn why he has such an aversion to magic. Cole and Bailey were probably the least developed of the siblings. Bailey is very young and becomes attached to friends and home life very quickly so it is the hardest on her whenever the siblings have to move. She has an amazing mental power though; she can cloud minds and make people believe or act however she wants. Cole is very open and funny, but he sometimes has unexplained mood swings that seem to worry the other siblings. I loved all of the Moonset children and am looking forward to learning more about each of them.
In this book, the siblings are brought to Carrow Mills to live. Once they begin school, Justin starts to realize that there is more going on than they have been told and he thinks the Congress has an ulterior motive for bringing them to Carrow Mill specifically. With the help of his other siblings and his secretive sorta-girlfriend Ash, Justin investigates the strange sun/moon sign that has been all over town and the possibility of a warlock in Carrow Mill. The storyline played out nice and cleanly and the pacing was very even throughout. I liked how the reveals about the Moonset coven were interwoven into the large plot and can't wait to find out the entire truth behind their revolt.
I really enjoyed this book and am so pleased that it will be a new series. Scott Tracey has combined an intriguing new world with colorful, exciting characters and a history that is filled with secrets. Add in magic, a shady witch Congress, and a little dash of romance and you have the recipe for a winning series. I recommend this book for all readers of fantasy or urban fantasy and I think it would be appropriate for ages 13 and up. I am looking forward to reading more of Mr. Tracey's works but I will have my eyes especially peeled for the next Moonset novel!
Thank you to Netgalley and Flux for providing an ARC copy of this book!
Moonset by Scott Tracey was a wonderful surprise! I picked up this book on a whim after reading the blurb and I am really glad I did. It had a really intriguing premise and was a great setup for this new trilogy. I can't wait to learn more about Moonset and its secrets and to see how the characters continue to grow.
Justin Daggett and his "siblings" are witches. Their parents were all members of the same coven, Moonset, that committed atrocities against the witch Congress. After the coven is killed, Justin and the other children are taken in by the Congress and are passed from guardian to guardian to be raised. They are feared and looked down upon because the entire witch community thinks they will one day turn dark like their parents. Justin is out to prove everyone wrong and to learn the secrets behind the Moonset coven's fate.
Justin, his half-sister Jenna, oldest Malcolm, youngest Bailey, and middle-child Cole are the children of Moonset. The are considered siblings because they are protected by a curse that will not allow then to be separated or put into danger. Justin and Jenna are the only two actually related as they share the same father. The children have grown up together and think of one another as their family, but they have also developed into their own coven.
Justin had a wonderful narrative voice and I enjoyed learning the Moonset secrets from his perspective. He was funny, smart, and loved his family to a fault. Though Justin is younger than both Mal and Jenna, he is looked upon as the leader and is the one everyone else depends on. Maybe it's because most YA books seem to be written from a female perspective, but the use of Justin's perspective felt like a breath of fresh air. He was slight dorky and awkward, but it made him easy to connect with him.
The other siblings were very different from Justin. Jenna was a raging bitch monster most of the time; I'm talking complete mean girls stereotype. It made it hard to like her very much, but she did have her softer moments occasionally. Malcolm as the oldest and largest is more of a physical protector. He and Justin had a good rapport and I'm interested to learn why he has such an aversion to magic. Cole and Bailey were probably the least developed of the siblings. Bailey is very young and becomes attached to friends and home life very quickly so it is the hardest on her whenever the siblings have to move. She has an amazing mental power though; she can cloud minds and make people believe or act however she wants. Cole is very open and funny, but he sometimes has unexplained mood swings that seem to worry the other siblings. I loved all of the Moonset children and am looking forward to learning more about each of them.
In this book, the siblings are brought to Carrow Mills to live. Once they begin school, Justin starts to realize that there is more going on than they have been told and he thinks the Congress has an ulterior motive for bringing them to Carrow Mill specifically. With the help of his other siblings and his secretive sorta-girlfriend Ash, Justin investigates the strange sun/moon sign that has been all over town and the possibility of a warlock in Carrow Mill. The storyline played out nice and cleanly and the pacing was very even throughout. I liked how the reveals about the Moonset coven were interwoven into the large plot and can't wait to find out the entire truth behind their revolt.
I really enjoyed this book and am so pleased that it will be a new series. Scott Tracey has combined an intriguing new world with colorful, exciting characters and a history that is filled with secrets. Add in magic, a shady witch Congress, and a little dash of romance and you have the recipe for a winning series. I recommend this book for all readers of fantasy or urban fantasy and I think it would be appropriate for ages 13 and up. I am looking forward to reading more of Mr. Tracey's works but I will have my eyes especially peeled for the next Moonset novel!
Thank you to Netgalley and Flux for providing an ARC copy of this book!
March 13, 2013
I haven’t read anything written by Scott Tracey previous to Moonset, but I definitely will be reading Witch Eyes as soon as I can. Mr Tracey has an amazing writing style that is so easy to read with such a great flow that you don’t realise how fast the pages are turning. The characters of this book are amazing and so vast that you can’t help but relate to some of their attitude quirks and urge them to become more mature and fight for their own life.
Moonset is a coven of witches and this particular coven has only teenagers as its members. Years ago there was a conflict between the covens and Moonset lost. They were classed as terrorists and it was believed they wanted to open the door to the darkness and the demons. As a side effect of this conflict, the only surviving members were the children. Malcolm (eldest), Jenna and Justin (twins, but to different Mothers), Cole and Bailey (she is the youngest).
These 5 siblings, not by blood, but still family all the same, have been together and moved together ever since their parents died. Every time they start a new school, Jenna or Cole cause trouble and they get moved again. Jenna caused mayhem and confusion at this school and Cole helped, their guardians come and take them out of school when a wraith comes to capture the siblings.
Justin is almost caught, but since the children are cursed, he couldn’t be harmed and the wraith was eventually destroyed. This is just the beginning of the trouble that seems to follow the Moonset kids around.
Their next move is to Carrow Hill, the beginning and the end of the Moonset Legacy. It seems this was where their parents came from and where trouble comes to a climax. Starting a new school, Justin decides it is time to meet a girl. Ash is strong willed and bold, she tells Justin what and when, he is attracted to her straight away.
There seems to be a conspiracy and the Moonset kids are the bait. There is a warlock in town and the only way to find out who he is, is to use the kids and blame them for the trouble. Can Justin work out who is behind all the trouble in town? Can he work out who can be trusted and what the mysterious symbol means? Can the siblings still trust one another? Who or what is Ash? Who are all these people?
From the first pages I was hooked, this story about witches and magic was so very intriguing and mysterious. I was kept guessing the whole time and still there are answers that I need. I cannot wait for book 2 and loved that this was another awesome read from a male’s point of view. Full to the brim with intrigue, betrayal, secrets, mystery and romance, Mr Tracey has thought of everything. I highly recommend this to all young adult readers, such a fun action packed read.
Favourite part:
“Am I supposed to be scare of you? Cole laughed – laughed! At the wraith. “You should see Jenna without makeup. That’s scary.”
“You look like Betty White’s grandmother,” Cole called. “And you smell like a Kardashian.”
~ loc 285 8%
Moonset is a coven of witches and this particular coven has only teenagers as its members. Years ago there was a conflict between the covens and Moonset lost. They were classed as terrorists and it was believed they wanted to open the door to the darkness and the demons. As a side effect of this conflict, the only surviving members were the children. Malcolm (eldest), Jenna and Justin (twins, but to different Mothers), Cole and Bailey (she is the youngest).
These 5 siblings, not by blood, but still family all the same, have been together and moved together ever since their parents died. Every time they start a new school, Jenna or Cole cause trouble and they get moved again. Jenna caused mayhem and confusion at this school and Cole helped, their guardians come and take them out of school when a wraith comes to capture the siblings.
Justin is almost caught, but since the children are cursed, he couldn’t be harmed and the wraith was eventually destroyed. This is just the beginning of the trouble that seems to follow the Moonset kids around.
Their next move is to Carrow Hill, the beginning and the end of the Moonset Legacy. It seems this was where their parents came from and where trouble comes to a climax. Starting a new school, Justin decides it is time to meet a girl. Ash is strong willed and bold, she tells Justin what and when, he is attracted to her straight away.
There seems to be a conspiracy and the Moonset kids are the bait. There is a warlock in town and the only way to find out who he is, is to use the kids and blame them for the trouble. Can Justin work out who is behind all the trouble in town? Can he work out who can be trusted and what the mysterious symbol means? Can the siblings still trust one another? Who or what is Ash? Who are all these people?
From the first pages I was hooked, this story about witches and magic was so very intriguing and mysterious. I was kept guessing the whole time and still there are answers that I need. I cannot wait for book 2 and loved that this was another awesome read from a male’s point of view. Full to the brim with intrigue, betrayal, secrets, mystery and romance, Mr Tracey has thought of everything. I highly recommend this to all young adult readers, such a fun action packed read.
Favourite part:
“Am I supposed to be scare of you? Cole laughed – laughed! At the wraith. “You should see Jenna without makeup. That’s scary.”
“You look like Betty White’s grandmother,” Cole called. “And you smell like a Kardashian.”
~ loc 285 8%
March 10, 2013
Full review up on the blog: http://gloriousbooks.blogspot.co.uk/2...
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with this one. I was expecting something a little different when I read the summary - maybe your average teenage drama with a paranormal edge to it, but it went a lot deeper than that and I found myself enjoying the plot.
What I most liked about this read was the backstory of the main character. Justin and his family are the children of terrorists who just happen to be witches too. They abused their power and summoned dark forces and were killed because of it. Justin and his Coven still suffer for what his parents did, even though they had nothing to do with it. All the witchy stuff aside, I think a lot of people can relate to the injustice of that kind of situation - I know I for one have been blamed for something just because someone in my family happened to do the same thing. I know blood is thicker than water and all that, but to what extent?
I also really loved reading a male's p.o.v. It was such a nice change since I haven't read a male narrative in what feels like such a long time so I really enjoyed the subtle differences. I thought Justin was a really well developed character that completely changed by the end of the book. I could notice him growing up slightly and taking charge when and where he needed to which I think every book with a strong protagonist should have.
The supporting characters, namely Justin's family, Ash and Quinn were really well rounded characters too. I just really wish they played a bigger part in the plot. I didn't feel that I got to know them well enough for me to care about whatever may happen to them by the end of the book. I thought Quinn played the part really well but Justin's siblings were cut out of the story quite a bit which I think is disappointing.
The plot itself seemed to me like a big introduction to the series. There was a huge emphasis on Moonset's past, especially with Justin's father, and the events that occurred felt like a precursor to what is going to happen in the next book. I did enjoy the plot more towards the end where things got very interesting, but I think it has even greater potential in the next book of the series. I definitely want to find out how Tracey takes it from here.
Overall I would recommend this read for fans of the paranormal genre. It's not a quick read and it gets a lot more interesting towards the end, but I enjoyed it.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with this one. I was expecting something a little different when I read the summary - maybe your average teenage drama with a paranormal edge to it, but it went a lot deeper than that and I found myself enjoying the plot.
What I most liked about this read was the backstory of the main character. Justin and his family are the children of terrorists who just happen to be witches too. They abused their power and summoned dark forces and were killed because of it. Justin and his Coven still suffer for what his parents did, even though they had nothing to do with it. All the witchy stuff aside, I think a lot of people can relate to the injustice of that kind of situation - I know I for one have been blamed for something just because someone in my family happened to do the same thing. I know blood is thicker than water and all that, but to what extent?
I also really loved reading a male's p.o.v. It was such a nice change since I haven't read a male narrative in what feels like such a long time so I really enjoyed the subtle differences. I thought Justin was a really well developed character that completely changed by the end of the book. I could notice him growing up slightly and taking charge when and where he needed to which I think every book with a strong protagonist should have.
The supporting characters, namely Justin's family, Ash and Quinn were really well rounded characters too. I just really wish they played a bigger part in the plot. I didn't feel that I got to know them well enough for me to care about whatever may happen to them by the end of the book. I thought Quinn played the part really well but Justin's siblings were cut out of the story quite a bit which I think is disappointing.
The plot itself seemed to me like a big introduction to the series. There was a huge emphasis on Moonset's past, especially with Justin's father, and the events that occurred felt like a precursor to what is going to happen in the next book. I did enjoy the plot more towards the end where things got very interesting, but I think it has even greater potential in the next book of the series. I definitely want to find out how Tracey takes it from here.
Overall I would recommend this read for fans of the paranormal genre. It's not a quick read and it gets a lot more interesting towards the end, but I enjoyed it.
May 4, 2014
Scott Tracey is fast becoming one of my favourite young adult fantasy authors. I think this book has received a bit of unfair criticism as the few that I read seemed to mostly complain about the lack of character depth and development. This is the first book in a series and as such it set up the world and the characters fantastically for me. I liked the way that Mal was set up as the "gay gym-bunny" without there being any need to explicitly state that he was gay. Tracey has done a wonderful job of simply normalising homosexuality so that the reader picks up on it through comments and actions of the rest of the characters rather than the main character pointing it out as a necessary way to define him. I think there are hidden depths to these characters and I'm hoping that Tracey will bring these out further in the future books. While Jenna is certainly the trouble-maker and Bailey is the girl who clings, I think there were enough hints at more going on than meets the eye in both of them, and if not them then definitely Cole.
The other thing I totally adored about this book was the world Tracey has created. I love the idea of this quasi-religious witch group who somehow turned to terrorism and terrified the world for years before suddenly surrendering and leaving behind a group of babies who cannot be separated or harmed. I have my suspicions about what might have actually gone on it these times, and I'll be interested to see how Tracey deals with all of this. The covens do seem to be running an oligarchy where if you belong to a coven (this is a spontaneous thing that can't be forced but simply happens to some witches) you have vastly greater authority and power within the hidden witch world. The main character Justin has at one moment an interesting episode where he argues against this power structure in much the same way as his father, the leader of the Moonset cult did. It makes me wonder whether Moonset was as evil as everyone thought they were or if there was something else controlling their actions. I guess we'll find out in subsequent books!
The other thing I totally adored about this book was the world Tracey has created. I love the idea of this quasi-religious witch group who somehow turned to terrorism and terrified the world for years before suddenly surrendering and leaving behind a group of babies who cannot be separated or harmed. I have my suspicions about what might have actually gone on it these times, and I'll be interested to see how Tracey deals with all of this. The covens do seem to be running an oligarchy where if you belong to a coven (this is a spontaneous thing that can't be forced but simply happens to some witches) you have vastly greater authority and power within the hidden witch world. The main character Justin has at one moment an interesting episode where he argues against this power structure in much the same way as his father, the leader of the Moonset cult did. It makes me wonder whether Moonset was as evil as everyone thought they were or if there was something else controlling their actions. I guess we'll find out in subsequent books!
April 13, 2013
I have been a fan of Scott Tracey since I first read Witch Eyes, and I could not wait to experience his new series. Moonset is the first book in The Legacy of Moonset series, and it is unbelievably phenomenal. The five children of Moonset are the black sheep of the witching world, simply because of the travesties their parents committed when they were still in diapers. While they may not all be biological siblings, they are a family.
The oldest is Malcolm Denton, but he does not want anything to do with the magic that destroyed his family and his life. That leaves Justin Dagget as the spoke person and quasi leader, who is forced to deal with his twin, Jenna’s antics. Jenna is a notorious troublemaker, whose actions have resulted in the children of Moonset being repeatedly moved. Cole Sutter is the second youngest, and he is mischievous and likes to follow in Jenna’s shadow. Bailey is the youngest, and she is the most effected by the numerous moves and the constant changing of schools.
Moonset keeps the action coming from the very beginning. Just when you get comfortable, it ramps up the pace. It is a roller coaster ride of a read, with twists, turns, ups, and downs, but it is the best kind of roller coaster ride, terrifying but you are completely in love with it at the same time. I am seriously at a loss of words at how to describe how much a loved this book. I dropped everything I was doing and even made my daughter late for school just so I could finish a few more pages.
Now I will be sitting here waiting, eagerly waiting, for the next book in the series to see what is going to happen to the Moonset kids. I guess I will have to fill the void with Phantom Eyes when it comes out in October. I have said before and I will say it again, Scott Tracey is a genius.
**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review**
The oldest is Malcolm Denton, but he does not want anything to do with the magic that destroyed his family and his life. That leaves Justin Dagget as the spoke person and quasi leader, who is forced to deal with his twin, Jenna’s antics. Jenna is a notorious troublemaker, whose actions have resulted in the children of Moonset being repeatedly moved. Cole Sutter is the second youngest, and he is mischievous and likes to follow in Jenna’s shadow. Bailey is the youngest, and she is the most effected by the numerous moves and the constant changing of schools.
Moonset keeps the action coming from the very beginning. Just when you get comfortable, it ramps up the pace. It is a roller coaster ride of a read, with twists, turns, ups, and downs, but it is the best kind of roller coaster ride, terrifying but you are completely in love with it at the same time. I am seriously at a loss of words at how to describe how much a loved this book. I dropped everything I was doing and even made my daughter late for school just so I could finish a few more pages.
Now I will be sitting here waiting, eagerly waiting, for the next book in the series to see what is going to happen to the Moonset kids. I guess I will have to fill the void with Phantom Eyes when it comes out in October. I have said before and I will say it again, Scott Tracey is a genius.
**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review**
August 10, 2016
DNF at 25%.
I'm sure there was a very condescending quote about Jenna being a raging bitch, but I couldn't find it, and I didn't want to spend more time on this disaster of a book than I have to.
Well, there you have it, kids. That's Jenna in her entirety. A raging, jealous, controlling bitch that gets sulky when she doesn't get something, and creates problems out of fucking nothing. A walking, talking, queen-bee stereotype.
For some reason, her stereotype pissed me off the most. Because, let me think, there's the shy, fragile younger sister that only wants a puppy in this world; the macho, gym-is-my-life, no-homo-bro, jacked up brother; the mischievous, blond/blue-eyed, pretty boy brother with a sarcastic tongue and edgy personality; and, my favourite, can't-talk-to-girls, just-put-a-halo-on-me, metrosexual protagonist that acts like God's gift on earth.
Ah, and let's not forget, Ash.
Is she not a fucking raging bitch, too? What kind of person talks like that. "Let you" buy coffee? "Work our way" up to ducky? What the hell is wrong with this girl? Is this my entire female representation?
We have, a sulky raging bitch, a flirty bitch, an incompetent guardian (who will only get this one mention), and a demure sister. Talk about a fucking disaster.
It's not only condescending, it's irritating. And fucking demeaning.
What the fuck, Tracey.
It wouldn’t be enough for Jenna to embarrass the principal by making him look like an incompetent, she’d want a hand in embarrassing him personally.
I'm sure there was a very condescending quote about Jenna being a raging bitch, but I couldn't find it, and I didn't want to spend more time on this disaster of a book than I have to.
Well, there you have it, kids. That's Jenna in her entirety. A raging, jealous, controlling bitch that gets sulky when she doesn't get something, and creates problems out of fucking nothing. A walking, talking, queen-bee stereotype.
For some reason, her stereotype pissed me off the most. Because, let me think, there's the shy, fragile younger sister that only wants a puppy in this world; the macho, gym-is-my-life, no-homo-bro, jacked up brother; the mischievous, blond/blue-eyed, pretty boy brother with a sarcastic tongue and edgy personality; and, my favourite, can't-talk-to-girls, just-put-a-halo-on-me, metrosexual protagonist that acts like God's gift on earth.
Ah, and let's not forget, Ash.
“Come on, puppy,” she said with a backwards glance at me. “I’m going to let you buy my coffee.”
I remained where I was. “Puppy?”
“Could’ve called you kitten,” she said over her shoulder. “Keep it up, and maybe we’ll work our way up to ducky.”
“I have a name,” I replied. But before I knew it, I was following her.
I could practically hear the amusement dripping from her words. “Still didn’t ask.”
Is she not a fucking raging bitch, too? What kind of person talks like that. "Let you" buy coffee? "Work our way" up to ducky? What the hell is wrong with this girl? Is this my entire female representation?
We have, a sulky raging bitch, a flirty bitch, an incompetent guardian (who will only get this one mention), and a demure sister. Talk about a fucking disaster.
It's not only condescending, it's irritating. And fucking demeaning.
What the fuck, Tracey.
February 28, 2013
Moonset had one of the most interesting premises. I love novels with witches and the politics of the covens in Moonset were fascinating. The idea of a coven becoming terrorists and working against the governing body of witches is awesome and to have the story from the point of of view of the children of these terrorists is even cooler. The world in Moonset was incredible and unique.
Somehow, the awesomeness of Moonset must have been poorly executed in some way. I am baffled by how such an amazing story fell flat for me, but it did. I was unable to connect with any of the characters, despite all of them having distinct personalities. I thought it would change once Ash was introduced. She was a quirky and fun character and Justin’s love interest, but as much as I loved the idea of her character, something about her and the other characters fell flat.
As I continued reading, the plot thickened. The pace sped up and an entire web of secrets began to unravel before my eyes. As awesome as this was, there was still something about this book that wasn’t hooking me. I felt intrigued, yet somewhat disconnected the entire time, despite totally loving the events that were taking place. I cannot say that Moonset wasn’t a good story, but I just couldn’t get into and connect with any of the characters and truly care about the outcome. I’m not really sure why. As much as I wanted to love this book, I just didn’t.
I would probably recommend the book because it is unique and the plot really was great. Perhaps whatever went wrong for me won’t happen to others. I did enjoy the premise and it partly filled a giant gap in my life since The Secret Circle television show was cancelled. I realize how much I need more books with witch covens and darkness and family secrets.
Moonset will be released on April 8, 2013 and is available for pre-order
Somehow, the awesomeness of Moonset must have been poorly executed in some way. I am baffled by how such an amazing story fell flat for me, but it did. I was unable to connect with any of the characters, despite all of them having distinct personalities. I thought it would change once Ash was introduced. She was a quirky and fun character and Justin’s love interest, but as much as I loved the idea of her character, something about her and the other characters fell flat.
As I continued reading, the plot thickened. The pace sped up and an entire web of secrets began to unravel before my eyes. As awesome as this was, there was still something about this book that wasn’t hooking me. I felt intrigued, yet somewhat disconnected the entire time, despite totally loving the events that were taking place. I cannot say that Moonset wasn’t a good story, but I just couldn’t get into and connect with any of the characters and truly care about the outcome. I’m not really sure why. As much as I wanted to love this book, I just didn’t.
I would probably recommend the book because it is unique and the plot really was great. Perhaps whatever went wrong for me won’t happen to others. I did enjoy the premise and it partly filled a giant gap in my life since The Secret Circle television show was cancelled. I realize how much I need more books with witch covens and darkness and family secrets.
Moonset will be released on April 8, 2013 and is available for pre-order
August 17, 2016
Well this was a particularly refreshing read.
For one, a well written first person male point of view (however given the author is male it should be a given). Second off, a book I had hoped to find a Jim Butcheresque book for young adults. In this book "Moonset" it revolves around a group of "siblings" Justin, Jenna, Bailey, Cole, and Malcom. However, only two of them Justin and Jenna share a parent and are half-siblings. The others are siblings because they grew up together as the children of Moonset, the coven their parent's were in. A coven that went from the light to the dark, and the children have to answer to their parent's wrongs.
In a lot of ways this is a story about legacies and to pave ones own path given a history that they will never run away from. I really enjoyed this story, however it felt a bit slow for awhile. However, it picked up at the end of the novel. In terms of technical parts of this book the main antagonist in this book was rather easy to identify after awhile, but the rest of the story wasn't.
In the way of characters it was refreshing to have individual voices of the characters. You knew who was speaking and the mannerisms they would have as individuals hard to find among YA fiction sometimes.
I also thought the magic was fun in this book too, and I liked how he related it to language. He knows me well as a reader and how I am a sucker for grimoires and spell words.
Overall, this was a pleasant experience and I very much recommend it if someone likes Jim Butcher and good urban fantasy stories that are a bit different than the usual bunch.
For one, a well written first person male point of view (however given the author is male it should be a given). Second off, a book I had hoped to find a Jim Butcheresque book for young adults. In this book "Moonset" it revolves around a group of "siblings" Justin, Jenna, Bailey, Cole, and Malcom. However, only two of them Justin and Jenna share a parent and are half-siblings. The others are siblings because they grew up together as the children of Moonset, the coven their parent's were in. A coven that went from the light to the dark, and the children have to answer to their parent's wrongs.
In a lot of ways this is a story about legacies and to pave ones own path given a history that they will never run away from. I really enjoyed this story, however it felt a bit slow for awhile. However, it picked up at the end of the novel. In terms of technical parts of this book the main antagonist in this book was rather easy to identify after awhile, but the rest of the story wasn't.
In the way of characters it was refreshing to have individual voices of the characters. You knew who was speaking and the mannerisms they would have as individuals hard to find among YA fiction sometimes.
I also thought the magic was fun in this book too, and I liked how he related it to language. He knows me well as a reader and how I am a sucker for grimoires and spell words.
Overall, this was a pleasant experience and I very much recommend it if someone likes Jim Butcher and good urban fantasy stories that are a bit different than the usual bunch.
December 28, 2015
Full review coming on my blog, the Snark Theater.
This book is…okay. Not great, but okay.
Most infuriatingly, it relies on a ton of tropes I'm not a fan of. Tropes that keep reminding me that Scott Tracey is in fact a fan of Cassandra Clare. And that's never a good thing to remind me of.
But even without that…this book feels like it's rehashing the same plot threads as Tracey's Witch Eyes series. Which I liked, and so I do like the plot here…it's just really underwhelming the second time around.
This book is…okay. Not great, but okay.
Most infuriatingly, it relies on a ton of tropes I'm not a fan of. Tropes that keep reminding me that Scott Tracey is in fact a fan of Cassandra Clare. And that's never a good thing to remind me of.
But even without that…this book feels like it's rehashing the same plot threads as Tracey's Witch Eyes series. Which I liked, and so I do like the plot here…it's just really underwhelming the second time around.
November 18, 2012
Awesome, awesome, awesome. Can I have the sequel, like now?
Review to come closer to release date.
Review to come closer to release date.
December 10, 2013
Also posted at Chaos Reads: The YA Fiction Forums
http://chaosreads.com/topic/7287-moon...
Scott Tracey(Author of this Book, Moonset) is a wickedly creative guy. I love the stories he tells and MOST of the characters he has created. I read his first Trilogy, Witch Eyes, and fell in love with Braden because Braden is one of the best written LGBT lead characters I've ever read. He was well-written and the the mythology of Witch Eyes was amazing. So I decided to give his new series Moonset a shot.
Overall, While Moonset didn't immediately grab me the way Witch Eyes Trilogy did, it has made me grow as a fan of Scott Tracey and it is making me hungry for the Sequel, Darkbound. Loved this book!
1. Plot & Writing
The basic plot of Moonset is this coven of 5 young witches who are the children of a terrorist witch coven known as Moonset. Moonset led a war and rebellion and embraced dark magic and went on a killing spree before they were eventually taken down.
Their children are now teenagers and orphans and they are sort of treated badly by the Congress(think the Witch Government) as they fear the children will become evil like their parents. After the young coven of witches is nearly killed by a dangerous creatures, they are ushered to a new town to sort of start over.
But as the story progresses, secrets are being kept and as they begin to uncover the past of their parents and secrets of the Congress, all hell begins to break loose when they begin to discover the Congress may have reasons for bringing them to the new town. Reasons that could get them killed.....
First and Foremost, I love when an author writes Teen and YA fiction where the characters SOUND just like 14-17 year old Kids. THey swear. They make jokes. They are immature and they are TEENAGERS.
Scott creates 5 distinct main characters who are individuals(though some are slightly underdeveloped) and you immediately want to know more.
My one complaint is this book is FIRST PERSON meaning while there are 5 main characters, you only get to really get into the head of one character and while Justin is a good guy, he was not as interesting as say his sister or even the mysterious Mal or troubled Cole.
The book is very descriptive not only in the mystery but also with the details of the spells...the details of the characters and the scene around them.
All in all, Very well-written but i did have a second complaint. There were several instances where good subplots popped up(Jenna being pissed with Justin or Cole's changing attitude) only to have them sort of dropped or forgotten in favor of less interesting subplots(Justin's crush).
2. Characters
As I said above, these are 5 Characters who are very distinct in personality. As the 5 kids of the terrorist coven, Moonset, you immediately feel bad for these kids because they may be a bit rebellious at times but they are just kids and they are being hated for what their parents did.
Justin is our lead Character of the book and I do like Justin but Justin sort of bugged me. I hate characters who are GOOD GUYS but you can't say anything bad about them really. He wasn't exactly flawed for me. He was borderline Mary Sue. Not completely but he wanted to protect his family...Fine. He had a crush on a girl and was really awkward with it...That's cool. But Justin really didn't seem to have much flaws about him and he was sort of just a stereotypical Good guy. Which made him sort of boring.
Jenna on the other hand is Justin's "Twin" and this girl is amazing. I love when we have Female characters who are badass and don't give a damn what people think. She is the bad girl who likes danger and likes mischief but you instantly see behind her bitch facade, this girl is hurting and she has trouble letting go of anger and issues trusting people who aren't in her coven/family. She had amazing one-liners and to be honest, I'd rather it have been Jenna leading the story not Justin.
Mal is the oldest of the group and Gay. But that's not why I like him. He is gay but he is nothing like a stereotype and makes sure you know it. Mal more or less hates being a witch and hates what his name means because of his parent's crimes. He is the older brother of the group and you can tell he has resentment when it comes to the witchcraft. Unfortunately, since Justin is the lead character we don't get much time with Mal. But thankfully, Mal is the lead character of Book Two which i am excited for because i want to see Mal's struggle with accepting who he is. And this time it has nothing to do with sexuality.
Bailey is the baby of the group. She is 15 years old and quite sensitive but a good girl. In the 1st half of the book i was a bit meh towards her because there wasn't a lot of scenes with her in it and when she was there, they sort of just were not interesting scenes. As the book continues on, Bailey develops an idenity and she becomes more compelling and I want to see more of her in the next book.
Cole is the fifth and final member of the coven and the least developed yet the most compelling. Cole is quite immature and a bit brash and impulsive yet he isn't as good at making friends as his siblings are. While they begin to make friends and go out with crushes, Cole is a bit...left out and you slowly start to see it. Unfortunately, when it is brought up....it more or less gets forgotten. Cole's isolation and feeling left out arguably is more interesting than anything Justin went through in this book but Cole barely gets developed and thus he serves the purpose of being the immature joker but thankfully in his few scenes, we do get to see there is slightly more to him and I hope book two gives him time to shine.
Secondary Characters like Quinn and Ash were OKAY. I liked Quinn. He was annoying(good way) when he was being cryptic and mysterious and I love the big brother feel he gave.
Ash was alright. I liked her more in the beginning but once she became the love interest of Justin, she sort of became meh to me. But she is like Jenna in the sense she is a bad-ass girl and made sure to let you know she wasn't going to go back and hide while Justin went to fight.
3. Overall
Overall, this was a pretty good read. But there are a couple annoyances.
When Authors write Series or trilogies, I hate how the FIRST BOOK always seems like a set-up for the overall series or trilogy. Yes, it is introducing us to the world you are creating but at the same time, the book should be able to standalone as its OWN BOOK without being viewed as the book that introduced the series.
For the 1st half of the book, the book felt just like an introduction. We have a fun and intense start and then it sort of levels out and becomes slow.
However, the second half of the book definitely amps up the adrenaline and makes the end result great.
I could have done without Justin and Ash plotline. Not every book needs a romance or at least they don't have to get together in the first book.
Justin was already sort of boring as a person but even with his relationship with Ash, it was meh. WHat i did love about Ash is that Ash actually took the lead. She flirted with him and she more or less pursued him and threw him off quite a bit which is a different pace when it is usually the guy being the more aggressive one.
My other annoyance is...Yes, Justin is the lead character but he is in a coven that contains FIVE WITCHES. I hated how the book sort of more or less blatantly stated that Justin is the most important or most interesting witch(Newsflash...He isn't) and it was stated several times that he was the one everyone was most interested in. In fact at the end, Jenna more or less says that she and Justin are the ones they are most interested in and the other 3 more or less don't matter.
Justin is the leader, I get it...But what about the other 4 in the coven. Why be in a coven if Justin is going to be the "Chosen One?" especially if their power is more or less on the same level.
That bugged me a lot but I am glad to see that Mal will be taking center ring in Book two as the lead character and I am curious to see how that will change things up.
All in all, despite a few misgivings and annoyances, I rate this book a 4 out of 5 star read.
It did not grab me immediately like Witch Eyes. I prefer Witch Eyes over Moonset because Braden(The main character of Witch Eyes) is far more interesting than Justin(Moonset).
What Moonset DOES much better than Witch Eyes is that it actually creates a cast of characters who are interesting. Witch Eyes had an extremely Electric lead character but the secondary characters(excluding Drew) were boring but the story was saved by Braden.
In Moonset, I find Justin(the lead character) boring but the other coven members and the secondary characters more than make up for it.
http://chaosreads.com/topic/7287-moon...
Scott Tracey(Author of this Book, Moonset) is a wickedly creative guy. I love the stories he tells and MOST of the characters he has created. I read his first Trilogy, Witch Eyes, and fell in love with Braden because Braden is one of the best written LGBT lead characters I've ever read. He was well-written and the the mythology of Witch Eyes was amazing. So I decided to give his new series Moonset a shot.
Overall, While Moonset didn't immediately grab me the way Witch Eyes Trilogy did, it has made me grow as a fan of Scott Tracey and it is making me hungry for the Sequel, Darkbound. Loved this book!
1. Plot & Writing
The basic plot of Moonset is this coven of 5 young witches who are the children of a terrorist witch coven known as Moonset. Moonset led a war and rebellion and embraced dark magic and went on a killing spree before they were eventually taken down.
Their children are now teenagers and orphans and they are sort of treated badly by the Congress(think the Witch Government) as they fear the children will become evil like their parents. After the young coven of witches is nearly killed by a dangerous creatures, they are ushered to a new town to sort of start over.
But as the story progresses, secrets are being kept and as they begin to uncover the past of their parents and secrets of the Congress, all hell begins to break loose when they begin to discover the Congress may have reasons for bringing them to the new town. Reasons that could get them killed.....
First and Foremost, I love when an author writes Teen and YA fiction where the characters SOUND just like 14-17 year old Kids. THey swear. They make jokes. They are immature and they are TEENAGERS.
Scott creates 5 distinct main characters who are individuals(though some are slightly underdeveloped) and you immediately want to know more.
My one complaint is this book is FIRST PERSON meaning while there are 5 main characters, you only get to really get into the head of one character and while Justin is a good guy, he was not as interesting as say his sister or even the mysterious Mal or troubled Cole.
The book is very descriptive not only in the mystery but also with the details of the spells...the details of the characters and the scene around them.
All in all, Very well-written but i did have a second complaint. There were several instances where good subplots popped up(Jenna being pissed with Justin or Cole's changing attitude) only to have them sort of dropped or forgotten in favor of less interesting subplots(Justin's crush).
2. Characters
As I said above, these are 5 Characters who are very distinct in personality. As the 5 kids of the terrorist coven, Moonset, you immediately feel bad for these kids because they may be a bit rebellious at times but they are just kids and they are being hated for what their parents did.
Justin is our lead Character of the book and I do like Justin but Justin sort of bugged me. I hate characters who are GOOD GUYS but you can't say anything bad about them really. He wasn't exactly flawed for me. He was borderline Mary Sue. Not completely but he wanted to protect his family...Fine. He had a crush on a girl and was really awkward with it...That's cool. But Justin really didn't seem to have much flaws about him and he was sort of just a stereotypical Good guy. Which made him sort of boring.
Jenna on the other hand is Justin's "Twin" and this girl is amazing. I love when we have Female characters who are badass and don't give a damn what people think. She is the bad girl who likes danger and likes mischief but you instantly see behind her bitch facade, this girl is hurting and she has trouble letting go of anger and issues trusting people who aren't in her coven/family. She had amazing one-liners and to be honest, I'd rather it have been Jenna leading the story not Justin.
Mal is the oldest of the group and Gay. But that's not why I like him. He is gay but he is nothing like a stereotype and makes sure you know it. Mal more or less hates being a witch and hates what his name means because of his parent's crimes. He is the older brother of the group and you can tell he has resentment when it comes to the witchcraft. Unfortunately, since Justin is the lead character we don't get much time with Mal. But thankfully, Mal is the lead character of Book Two which i am excited for because i want to see Mal's struggle with accepting who he is. And this time it has nothing to do with sexuality.
Bailey is the baby of the group. She is 15 years old and quite sensitive but a good girl. In the 1st half of the book i was a bit meh towards her because there wasn't a lot of scenes with her in it and when she was there, they sort of just were not interesting scenes. As the book continues on, Bailey develops an idenity and she becomes more compelling and I want to see more of her in the next book.
Cole is the fifth and final member of the coven and the least developed yet the most compelling. Cole is quite immature and a bit brash and impulsive yet he isn't as good at making friends as his siblings are. While they begin to make friends and go out with crushes, Cole is a bit...left out and you slowly start to see it. Unfortunately, when it is brought up....it more or less gets forgotten. Cole's isolation and feeling left out arguably is more interesting than anything Justin went through in this book but Cole barely gets developed and thus he serves the purpose of being the immature joker but thankfully in his few scenes, we do get to see there is slightly more to him and I hope book two gives him time to shine.
Secondary Characters like Quinn and Ash were OKAY. I liked Quinn. He was annoying(good way) when he was being cryptic and mysterious and I love the big brother feel he gave.
Ash was alright. I liked her more in the beginning but once she became the love interest of Justin, she sort of became meh to me. But she is like Jenna in the sense she is a bad-ass girl and made sure to let you know she wasn't going to go back and hide while Justin went to fight.
3. Overall
Overall, this was a pretty good read. But there are a couple annoyances.
When Authors write Series or trilogies, I hate how the FIRST BOOK always seems like a set-up for the overall series or trilogy. Yes, it is introducing us to the world you are creating but at the same time, the book should be able to standalone as its OWN BOOK without being viewed as the book that introduced the series.
For the 1st half of the book, the book felt just like an introduction. We have a fun and intense start and then it sort of levels out and becomes slow.
However, the second half of the book definitely amps up the adrenaline and makes the end result great.
I could have done without Justin and Ash plotline. Not every book needs a romance or at least they don't have to get together in the first book.
Justin was already sort of boring as a person but even with his relationship with Ash, it was meh. WHat i did love about Ash is that Ash actually took the lead. She flirted with him and she more or less pursued him and threw him off quite a bit which is a different pace when it is usually the guy being the more aggressive one.
My other annoyance is...Yes, Justin is the lead character but he is in a coven that contains FIVE WITCHES. I hated how the book sort of more or less blatantly stated that Justin is the most important or most interesting witch(Newsflash...He isn't) and it was stated several times that he was the one everyone was most interested in. In fact at the end, Jenna more or less says that she and Justin are the ones they are most interested in and the other 3 more or less don't matter.
Justin is the leader, I get it...But what about the other 4 in the coven. Why be in a coven if Justin is going to be the "Chosen One?" especially if their power is more or less on the same level.
That bugged me a lot but I am glad to see that Mal will be taking center ring in Book two as the lead character and I am curious to see how that will change things up.
All in all, despite a few misgivings and annoyances, I rate this book a 4 out of 5 star read.
It did not grab me immediately like Witch Eyes. I prefer Witch Eyes over Moonset because Braden(The main character of Witch Eyes) is far more interesting than Justin(Moonset).
What Moonset DOES much better than Witch Eyes is that it actually creates a cast of characters who are interesting. Witch Eyes had an extremely Electric lead character but the secondary characters(excluding Drew) were boring but the story was saved by Braden.
In Moonset, I find Justin(the lead character) boring but the other coven members and the secondary characters more than make up for it.
January 22, 2013
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Great story mixed with some awesome magic and a little romance.
Opening Sentence: There were two hundred and forty-five students involved in the riot.
The Review:
Justin Daggett is a witch — well at least he was born a witch. He has grown up with his sister and 3 close friends. They are all children of the evil warlocks that once were part of a coven called Moonset. The people from Moonset used their magic to tap into the dark Abyss, and they did horrible things with it. Eventually, there was a war between Moonset and the rest of the magical world known as Congress. The Moonset coven eventually lost but not before much loss and destruction to the magical community. But they left behind their children who have had to always carry around the burden of being the children of the Moonset. Because of their parents transgressions Justin and his family have always been treated with much caution, and they have been taught very little magic.
Justin and his family are on their way to a new school in the town of Carrow Mills. Moving is nothing new to them they have always had a hard time staying in one place for long. This town is different from all the others. This is where Justin’s father — the infamous Sherrod Daggett grew up. This is where Moonset was started, but why would Congress move them here? Strange things have been happening around Carrow Mills and it seems that a new Warlock might be on the loose. Justin and his family seem to be the new targets, but no one is telling them what is going on. Justin has always been the leader of the group, so it is up to him to try and figure things out before it’s too late.
This book is told from Justin’s point of view. I have to admit that most books I read are told from a girl’s point of view so it was refreshing to switch it up and be inside a boy’s head. Justin is the middle child in their little group but he is still looked at as the leader. He is the one that everyone goes to when they have problems or just need to talk something through. He is slightly awkward at times, but it makes him endearing. I really liked Justin because he is a strong character that’s easy to connect with.
Now for the rest of the Moonset children. First we have Justin’s twin sister Jenna, who is the only one that is truly related to him by blood. She is one of those girls that has to always be in the spotlight, and she isn’t very nice. She defiantly has quite an attitude and most of the trouble the family gets into is because of Jenna. But she does have a vulnerable side that shows through when she is concerned about someone she cares about. I wouldn’t say that I loved her but I think she was a necessary character that added good drama.
Next we have Malcolm; he is the oldest in the group. He is a big work out fiend, and quite good looking. He has a pretty mellow personality and just goes along with everyone else. Justin has a good open relationship with Malcolm and they are always able to talk and figure things out when the family has problems. Malcolm is a pretty minor character, but he is steady and pretty likeable.
The two youngest children are Cole and Bailey. Cole is the funny one that is very chatty and happy most of the time. He gets along great with the rest of the family but he does have some weird mood swings at times. Last, we have Bailey the youngest. Bailey is the cute, emotional one. She gets attached easier than everyone else so all the moving is really hard on her. I really loved Justin’s family. They are a weird group but they really take care of each other.
So Justin hasn’t really had much experience with girls, between being a little shy and having a sister who never approves, his odds haven’t been so great. When he moves to Carrow Mills he meets the fun, mysterious Ash. She is very different from anyone he has ever met. Ash is very confident, with some weird kinks in her personality. She was one of my favorite characters in the book. There isn’t a lot of romance in this book, but what they have is cute and a great setup for the next installment.
I really enjoyed this book. Honestly, I had a really hard time putting it down. There wasn’t really anything amazing about the characters, and the plot was a little predictable, but it really was a well told story that I enjoyed immensely. The ending was great — no cliffhangers just the way I like it. This is a series and I am super excited to see what happens next in the adventure. I really enjoyed Scott Tracey’s writing style and I am eager to read more of his work. I would highly recommend this to anyone that likes witches, magic, or YA paranormal reads.
Notable Scene:
I could feel the wraith’s power ripping through me. It tore at me, at the part of me that wasn’t skin and blood and bone. Draining me. A vortex pulling away the part of me that was living, the spark that kept my heart pumping and my fear rising.
A switch flipped.
Polarity reversed. Life became death became life again.
The vortex became a geyser, and everything that was mine returned in a flash flood of light and life.
“No,” the wraith hissed. “No!”
A dark pall burst into murky light around me, like an aura made from shadowed half-truths and eclipse-light. It wasn’t magic, not exactly. Parts were, scraps that felt like something I should recognize, but they were threads in a much larger tapestry.
“Justin! Grab the chain!” Quinn gestured to my arm, and the iron that was already trying to unravel itself from my skin.
I twisted my forearm, grabbed the chain, and refused to let go. The chain shook, contorted and tried to break free, but I wouldn’t let go.
The aura grew darker, like storm clouds summoned above my head. I could feel something, an invisible pressure that settled against my skin like a shirt that was too tight.
It swept around me, a presence and a power that dwarfed anything I’d ever seen.
The wraiths’ eyes had looked like they were incapable of emotion, but there was one there now: fear. “You were to be rescued,” it hissed at me.
The aura swept forward from me, slicing through the air like a scythe, and cut the wraith down like it was the first born son, and this was a plague.
Darkness swallowed up the wraith, until there was a portal of tangible darkness where it had once stood.
FTC Advisory: Flux Publishing provided me with a copy of Moonset. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Great story mixed with some awesome magic and a little romance.
Opening Sentence: There were two hundred and forty-five students involved in the riot.
The Review:
Justin Daggett is a witch — well at least he was born a witch. He has grown up with his sister and 3 close friends. They are all children of the evil warlocks that once were part of a coven called Moonset. The people from Moonset used their magic to tap into the dark Abyss, and they did horrible things with it. Eventually, there was a war between Moonset and the rest of the magical world known as Congress. The Moonset coven eventually lost but not before much loss and destruction to the magical community. But they left behind their children who have had to always carry around the burden of being the children of the Moonset. Because of their parents transgressions Justin and his family have always been treated with much caution, and they have been taught very little magic.
Justin and his family are on their way to a new school in the town of Carrow Mills. Moving is nothing new to them they have always had a hard time staying in one place for long. This town is different from all the others. This is where Justin’s father — the infamous Sherrod Daggett grew up. This is where Moonset was started, but why would Congress move them here? Strange things have been happening around Carrow Mills and it seems that a new Warlock might be on the loose. Justin and his family seem to be the new targets, but no one is telling them what is going on. Justin has always been the leader of the group, so it is up to him to try and figure things out before it’s too late.
This book is told from Justin’s point of view. I have to admit that most books I read are told from a girl’s point of view so it was refreshing to switch it up and be inside a boy’s head. Justin is the middle child in their little group but he is still looked at as the leader. He is the one that everyone goes to when they have problems or just need to talk something through. He is slightly awkward at times, but it makes him endearing. I really liked Justin because he is a strong character that’s easy to connect with.
Now for the rest of the Moonset children. First we have Justin’s twin sister Jenna, who is the only one that is truly related to him by blood. She is one of those girls that has to always be in the spotlight, and she isn’t very nice. She defiantly has quite an attitude and most of the trouble the family gets into is because of Jenna. But she does have a vulnerable side that shows through when she is concerned about someone she cares about. I wouldn’t say that I loved her but I think she was a necessary character that added good drama.
Next we have Malcolm; he is the oldest in the group. He is a big work out fiend, and quite good looking. He has a pretty mellow personality and just goes along with everyone else. Justin has a good open relationship with Malcolm and they are always able to talk and figure things out when the family has problems. Malcolm is a pretty minor character, but he is steady and pretty likeable.
The two youngest children are Cole and Bailey. Cole is the funny one that is very chatty and happy most of the time. He gets along great with the rest of the family but he does have some weird mood swings at times. Last, we have Bailey the youngest. Bailey is the cute, emotional one. She gets attached easier than everyone else so all the moving is really hard on her. I really loved Justin’s family. They are a weird group but they really take care of each other.
So Justin hasn’t really had much experience with girls, between being a little shy and having a sister who never approves, his odds haven’t been so great. When he moves to Carrow Mills he meets the fun, mysterious Ash. She is very different from anyone he has ever met. Ash is very confident, with some weird kinks in her personality. She was one of my favorite characters in the book. There isn’t a lot of romance in this book, but what they have is cute and a great setup for the next installment.
I really enjoyed this book. Honestly, I had a really hard time putting it down. There wasn’t really anything amazing about the characters, and the plot was a little predictable, but it really was a well told story that I enjoyed immensely. The ending was great — no cliffhangers just the way I like it. This is a series and I am super excited to see what happens next in the adventure. I really enjoyed Scott Tracey’s writing style and I am eager to read more of his work. I would highly recommend this to anyone that likes witches, magic, or YA paranormal reads.
Notable Scene:
I could feel the wraith’s power ripping through me. It tore at me, at the part of me that wasn’t skin and blood and bone. Draining me. A vortex pulling away the part of me that was living, the spark that kept my heart pumping and my fear rising.
A switch flipped.
Polarity reversed. Life became death became life again.
The vortex became a geyser, and everything that was mine returned in a flash flood of light and life.
“No,” the wraith hissed. “No!”
A dark pall burst into murky light around me, like an aura made from shadowed half-truths and eclipse-light. It wasn’t magic, not exactly. Parts were, scraps that felt like something I should recognize, but they were threads in a much larger tapestry.
“Justin! Grab the chain!” Quinn gestured to my arm, and the iron that was already trying to unravel itself from my skin.
I twisted my forearm, grabbed the chain, and refused to let go. The chain shook, contorted and tried to break free, but I wouldn’t let go.
The aura grew darker, like storm clouds summoned above my head. I could feel something, an invisible pressure that settled against my skin like a shirt that was too tight.
It swept around me, a presence and a power that dwarfed anything I’d ever seen.
The wraiths’ eyes had looked like they were incapable of emotion, but there was one there now: fear. “You were to be rescued,” it hissed at me.
The aura swept forward from me, slicing through the air like a scythe, and cut the wraith down like it was the first born son, and this was a plague.
Darkness swallowed up the wraith, until there was a portal of tangible darkness where it had once stood.
FTC Advisory: Flux Publishing provided me with a copy of Moonset. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
March 15, 2013
When I saw Moonset in the Flux spring catalogue, I was immediately intrigued, as it had the makings of an exciting story. A terrorist witch coven? What kind of society would that happen in? Was magic out in the open or was it hidden? How and why would these innocent children be held responsible for their parents' crimes? So I was happy to get my hands on an eARC and be able to see whether all my questions were answered. And while it turned out not all of them were answered, many of them were and some I hadn't thought to ask. I ended up tearing through Moonset and I really enjoyed the book.
This enjoyment was largely due to the characters, who weren't perfect and some of them fell a little flat, but a lot of their dialogues and interactions were really fun and really snappy and I enjoyed them a lot. The story is told in the first person perspective by Jason. He's a sympathetic character even if he can come across as a bit of a martyr. In some ways he's a true middle child – both because he's a peacemaker and because he feels overlooked a lot – in others not so much, as he doesn't seem to truly resent his siblings. He's well-developed and grows quite a bit over the course of the book. Unlike the other siblings, unfortunately. The other four are almost stereotypes; Malcolm is the successful, serious, and ambitious eldest, Jenna is the rebel without a cause, cynical and disruptive, hiding a lot of hurt under her bad-girl exterior, Cole is the know-it-all little brother, and Bailey is the sensitive youngest, who needs to be babied and protected. They each have a role and stick to it, which is rather a shame, as there was a lot of potential in developing these family dynamics. We get a glimpse of them developing, but it's all muted compared to Justin, although this could be due to his being the point of view through which the story is told. Hopefully there will be more of a focus on the others next time. I'm also looking forward to learn more about Ash, Justin's love interest, and Quinn, the twins' guardian, as their characters had an interesting twist in the final part of the novel and the implications of these twists are bound to have an echoing effect in the next book.
While I was disappointed with the rather stereotypical nature of the various siblings, I really disliked the way Tracey stereotyped Meghan Virago, Maddy, and even Jenna for that matter. They are all portrayed as mean girls, unkind, arrogant, and Meghan is even called an outright bitch not just by Justin, but also by Jenna. In fact, even her surname Virago is a clue to the way she is portrayed. It's not that I'm opposed to women being cast as villains, but the way Tracey chose to do it, at least in the cases of Virago and Maddy, where they have no redeeming qualities whatsoever and their evilness is mostly remarked upon in relation to the way they dress, look, and behave, just rubbed me the wrong way.
Moonset's plot was interesting and the eventual villain in this book surprising, though I got a little frustrated at the secrets the kids keep. Their trust issues not withstanding – and their caution is quite justified – the things they decide not to tell Quinn or any other adult and what they decide to do on their own were just foolhardy. While the main mystery for this book was solved, we are left with plenty of hooks for the rest of the series and I'm keen to see where Tracey takes his tale. The writing was a little up and down. While it's snappy and rolls right a long, at times it drowned in similes, which while making the world quite vivid, also ended up making it the prose woollier than it needed to be. The dialogues, however, especially those between Justin and Ash, are great, and I found them very entertaining.
Moonset was a solid opener for the Legacy of Moonset, one I really enjoyed, despite its flaws. Tracey kept me turning pages as fast as I could. I'm looking forward to see where the mystery leads and how the kids are developed in future books. The book will be out on April 8th from Flux and if you enjoy contemporary, witchy YA fantasy then Moonset is certainly a tale you ought to check out.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
This enjoyment was largely due to the characters, who weren't perfect and some of them fell a little flat, but a lot of their dialogues and interactions were really fun and really snappy and I enjoyed them a lot. The story is told in the first person perspective by Jason. He's a sympathetic character even if he can come across as a bit of a martyr. In some ways he's a true middle child – both because he's a peacemaker and because he feels overlooked a lot – in others not so much, as he doesn't seem to truly resent his siblings. He's well-developed and grows quite a bit over the course of the book. Unlike the other siblings, unfortunately. The other four are almost stereotypes; Malcolm is the successful, serious, and ambitious eldest, Jenna is the rebel without a cause, cynical and disruptive, hiding a lot of hurt under her bad-girl exterior, Cole is the know-it-all little brother, and Bailey is the sensitive youngest, who needs to be babied and protected. They each have a role and stick to it, which is rather a shame, as there was a lot of potential in developing these family dynamics. We get a glimpse of them developing, but it's all muted compared to Justin, although this could be due to his being the point of view through which the story is told. Hopefully there will be more of a focus on the others next time. I'm also looking forward to learn more about Ash, Justin's love interest, and Quinn, the twins' guardian, as their characters had an interesting twist in the final part of the novel and the implications of these twists are bound to have an echoing effect in the next book.
While I was disappointed with the rather stereotypical nature of the various siblings, I really disliked the way Tracey stereotyped Meghan Virago, Maddy, and even Jenna for that matter. They are all portrayed as mean girls, unkind, arrogant, and Meghan is even called an outright bitch not just by Justin, but also by Jenna. In fact, even her surname Virago is a clue to the way she is portrayed. It's not that I'm opposed to women being cast as villains, but the way Tracey chose to do it, at least in the cases of Virago and Maddy, where they have no redeeming qualities whatsoever and their evilness is mostly remarked upon in relation to the way they dress, look, and behave, just rubbed me the wrong way.
Moonset's plot was interesting and the eventual villain in this book surprising, though I got a little frustrated at the secrets the kids keep. Their trust issues not withstanding – and their caution is quite justified – the things they decide not to tell Quinn or any other adult and what they decide to do on their own were just foolhardy. While the main mystery for this book was solved, we are left with plenty of hooks for the rest of the series and I'm keen to see where Tracey takes his tale. The writing was a little up and down. While it's snappy and rolls right a long, at times it drowned in similes, which while making the world quite vivid, also ended up making it the prose woollier than it needed to be. The dialogues, however, especially those between Justin and Ash, are great, and I found them very entertaining.
Moonset was a solid opener for the Legacy of Moonset, one I really enjoyed, despite its flaws. Tracey kept me turning pages as fast as I could. I'm looking forward to see where the mystery leads and how the kids are developed in future books. The book will be out on April 8th from Flux and if you enjoy contemporary, witchy YA fantasy then Moonset is certainly a tale you ought to check out.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
April 8, 2013
Moonset the first book in the Legacy of Moonset series and I was drawn to the cover and synopsis. Witches, warlocks, a powerful witch congress, danger, lies and an unknown enemy make this slow building tale a wonderful start to a fascinating and fresh new young adult series. While I craved more details I think this will appeal to fans of Harry Potter.
Five orphaned children, bound by a curse, sole survivors of a war against the witch Congress they are guarded and feared. Something is coming for them and Justin Daggett, son of a powerful Moonset warlock will have to uncover the clues to save them all. The tale opens at the orphan’s latest school when a riot breaks. A wraith appears destroying buildings and attempts to kidnap them. Witchers, members of the witch congresses army whisk them away to Carrow Mill and right away Justin and the others can sense something is wrong. This is where it all began and a harbinger warns them “they” are coming.
The tale was told from Justin Daggett’s point of view and it was refreshing to get a male POV. Even though he is the middle child, the others turn to him for advice and leadership. I liked Justin and found him level-headed and intelligent. He was innocent when it came to dealing with the opposite sex and had the patience of a saint when dealing with his half-sister Jenna. The other siblings are as follows; Malcolm is the oldest and a typical jock. He likes to tease Justin, but keeps him in the loop and seeks out his advice. Justin and Jenna are the only two of the five that are blood-related born minutes apart by different mothers. Bailey is the youngest and the other orphans are very protective of her. Cole is slightly younger than Justin and Jenna. Personality wise Justin and Jenna were the most fleshed out. Jenna is angry, and lashes out causing scenes and was portrayed as a “mean girl” with only glimpses of her softer side. Malcolm took the role of protector at times, and he seemed level-headed and cautious. Bailey forms attachments and has difficulty with the frequent moves. Cole is moody and we share funny moments with him and then watch him withdraw. Quinn is the Witcher assigned as guardian to Justin and Jenna. The orphans have all been cursed as a means to protect them and cannot be separated, thus they are split up into several homes adjacent each other with guardians. Quinn is the son of a powerful witch and coven leader, but from the beginning we see that he is different and doesn’t always agree on with the Congress. Ash is a local and is Justin’s love interest. I adored this snarky, opinionated darling. She was complex, and her storyline was interesting. I am anxious to see what path the author has in store for her. The romance was slow, sweet and complicated by revelations but wasn’t the main focus of this tale. Some characters reminded me of those in authority from the Harry Potter series; Dolores Umbridge and Minerva McGonagall are two that come to mind. The villains have all the elements we love and are still very much unknown.
The world building starts out with an intense opening scene and then slowly builds towards the climatic ending. The back history was provided at the beginning of each chapter and through Justin’s reading and lessons. The tale had elements of horror, suspense, mystery and the supernatural. The villain surprised me and some of the battles were enthralling and had a Potter vibe. I would have preferred all the siblings be fleshed out and wanted more detail regarding both the setting and the back history. The author certainly kept me informed and left me with only a reasonable amount questions as I prepare for book two. Some plots can handle six hundred pages filled with details and I felt this story called for more of those elements. Moonset was a wonderful first book that sadly read as a younger YA. The ending wrapped things up nicely and prepared us for the next book.
ARC provided for unbiased review.
Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Five orphaned children, bound by a curse, sole survivors of a war against the witch Congress they are guarded and feared. Something is coming for them and Justin Daggett, son of a powerful Moonset warlock will have to uncover the clues to save them all. The tale opens at the orphan’s latest school when a riot breaks. A wraith appears destroying buildings and attempts to kidnap them. Witchers, members of the witch congresses army whisk them away to Carrow Mill and right away Justin and the others can sense something is wrong. This is where it all began and a harbinger warns them “they” are coming.
The tale was told from Justin Daggett’s point of view and it was refreshing to get a male POV. Even though he is the middle child, the others turn to him for advice and leadership. I liked Justin and found him level-headed and intelligent. He was innocent when it came to dealing with the opposite sex and had the patience of a saint when dealing with his half-sister Jenna. The other siblings are as follows; Malcolm is the oldest and a typical jock. He likes to tease Justin, but keeps him in the loop and seeks out his advice. Justin and Jenna are the only two of the five that are blood-related born minutes apart by different mothers. Bailey is the youngest and the other orphans are very protective of her. Cole is slightly younger than Justin and Jenna. Personality wise Justin and Jenna were the most fleshed out. Jenna is angry, and lashes out causing scenes and was portrayed as a “mean girl” with only glimpses of her softer side. Malcolm took the role of protector at times, and he seemed level-headed and cautious. Bailey forms attachments and has difficulty with the frequent moves. Cole is moody and we share funny moments with him and then watch him withdraw. Quinn is the Witcher assigned as guardian to Justin and Jenna. The orphans have all been cursed as a means to protect them and cannot be separated, thus they are split up into several homes adjacent each other with guardians. Quinn is the son of a powerful witch and coven leader, but from the beginning we see that he is different and doesn’t always agree on with the Congress. Ash is a local and is Justin’s love interest. I adored this snarky, opinionated darling. She was complex, and her storyline was interesting. I am anxious to see what path the author has in store for her. The romance was slow, sweet and complicated by revelations but wasn’t the main focus of this tale. Some characters reminded me of those in authority from the Harry Potter series; Dolores Umbridge and Minerva McGonagall are two that come to mind. The villains have all the elements we love and are still very much unknown.
The world building starts out with an intense opening scene and then slowly builds towards the climatic ending. The back history was provided at the beginning of each chapter and through Justin’s reading and lessons. The tale had elements of horror, suspense, mystery and the supernatural. The villain surprised me and some of the battles were enthralling and had a Potter vibe. I would have preferred all the siblings be fleshed out and wanted more detail regarding both the setting and the back history. The author certainly kept me informed and left me with only a reasonable amount questions as I prepare for book two. Some plots can handle six hundred pages filled with details and I felt this story called for more of those elements. Moonset was a wonderful first book that sadly read as a younger YA. The ending wrapped things up nicely and prepared us for the next book.
ARC provided for unbiased review.
Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
February 15, 2013
The Moonset were a coven that tried to change witch society. Through a series co terrorist attacks they took out most of their challengers, killed any witch or coven that could stand against them. They built a cult of followers.
But they didn’t win. Slowly but surely they were pushed back until, to everyone’s surprise, they surrendered and were executed. Leaving behind their 5 children – protected by a curse that prevented them from being harmed or separated, the witch government was left with the Moonset’s children to raise
Which is where we come in, following Justin, Malcolm, Jenna, Cole and Bailey, the children of the hated Moonset, moved from place to place and held by witch guardians who can barely hide their disdain for the troublesome teens. Until the latest move to a town where it all began – a town with a warlock lurking in the shadows, demanding the Moonset children.
Are the teens there as bait? Or as collateral damage and quiet removal?
Look at that synopsis and drool, folks. A secret magical society with some excellent world building on the nature and workings of magic, hints of far more to come. A coven gone to the dark side and executed, their children bonding together both through unknown magic and desperate self-preservation in a society that is determined to hold them responsible for their parents’ crimes. Their close bonds, their anger, their trust issues and their desire for acceptance all at war, overlaid with a dark plot to try and draw them into the same dark side their parents embraced. But then, a new thread to the mystery – maybe their parents were not so simple as was previously suggested…
Seriously, how could you not write an awesome story with this as its seed? It’s a wonderfully imaginative gift, there’s so much there, there’s essences of originality, compelling hooks for a whole story and so many wonderful things to explore. How could this book not be awesome?
No, really… how could you not write an excellent book with this?
That isn’t a rhetorical question. Because I’m at a loss how such a wonderful world, setting and idea could produce this rather dull book. It’s like seeing someone take a wonderful block of gold veined marble and making door stops with it.
Primarily, this is because of the writing. It’s very overwritten, very over descriptive and metaphors and similes have been crammed in like commuters in a London Tube at rush hour. And even less smoothly than that one. If you cut out the excess verbiage this book could have been half as long and much faster moving; we don’t need everything described in such vivid and exhaustive detail – it doesn’t set the scene, it distracts from it and focuses on irrelevant minutia. Like the travelling, we’re treated to several paragraphs of Justin wondering whether they’re in New York state – yes, you are, now move on! And not only do we have a lot of “tell” rather than “show” but sometimes the tell is used to try and overwhelm the show. Like Justin muses how he’s disturbed at how many of their days end with bandages and bleach (i.e. they get hurt a lot) and we see this by… it never happening again the whole book. Or happening again before this incident either. In fact, since before this they were just moved around while Jenna got them expelled, I fail to see why it was a major factor before.
Sometimes the writing even destroys the mood – like describing a Wraith in wonderfully creepy terms and then having him have a voice that hisses like a deflating tire. Really? Because I was with your cinder crackling, bone crunching, sibilant wraith, only now he’s deflating like some kind of spooky Michelin man. Less is more sometimes. Or there’s similes that are just so over the top that the scene is ruined by my mad cackling, example:
Read More
But they didn’t win. Slowly but surely they were pushed back until, to everyone’s surprise, they surrendered and were executed. Leaving behind their 5 children – protected by a curse that prevented them from being harmed or separated, the witch government was left with the Moonset’s children to raise
Which is where we come in, following Justin, Malcolm, Jenna, Cole and Bailey, the children of the hated Moonset, moved from place to place and held by witch guardians who can barely hide their disdain for the troublesome teens. Until the latest move to a town where it all began – a town with a warlock lurking in the shadows, demanding the Moonset children.
Are the teens there as bait? Or as collateral damage and quiet removal?
Look at that synopsis and drool, folks. A secret magical society with some excellent world building on the nature and workings of magic, hints of far more to come. A coven gone to the dark side and executed, their children bonding together both through unknown magic and desperate self-preservation in a society that is determined to hold them responsible for their parents’ crimes. Their close bonds, their anger, their trust issues and their desire for acceptance all at war, overlaid with a dark plot to try and draw them into the same dark side their parents embraced. But then, a new thread to the mystery – maybe their parents were not so simple as was previously suggested…
Seriously, how could you not write an awesome story with this as its seed? It’s a wonderfully imaginative gift, there’s so much there, there’s essences of originality, compelling hooks for a whole story and so many wonderful things to explore. How could this book not be awesome?
No, really… how could you not write an excellent book with this?
That isn’t a rhetorical question. Because I’m at a loss how such a wonderful world, setting and idea could produce this rather dull book. It’s like seeing someone take a wonderful block of gold veined marble and making door stops with it.
Primarily, this is because of the writing. It’s very overwritten, very over descriptive and metaphors and similes have been crammed in like commuters in a London Tube at rush hour. And even less smoothly than that one. If you cut out the excess verbiage this book could have been half as long and much faster moving; we don’t need everything described in such vivid and exhaustive detail – it doesn’t set the scene, it distracts from it and focuses on irrelevant minutia. Like the travelling, we’re treated to several paragraphs of Justin wondering whether they’re in New York state – yes, you are, now move on! And not only do we have a lot of “tell” rather than “show” but sometimes the tell is used to try and overwhelm the show. Like Justin muses how he’s disturbed at how many of their days end with bandages and bleach (i.e. they get hurt a lot) and we see this by… it never happening again the whole book. Or happening again before this incident either. In fact, since before this they were just moved around while Jenna got them expelled, I fail to see why it was a major factor before.
Sometimes the writing even destroys the mood – like describing a Wraith in wonderfully creepy terms and then having him have a voice that hisses like a deflating tire. Really? Because I was with your cinder crackling, bone crunching, sibilant wraith, only now he’s deflating like some kind of spooky Michelin man. Less is more sometimes. Or there’s similes that are just so over the top that the scene is ruined by my mad cackling, example:
Read More
December 3, 2015
[Originally posted on the blog]
Double, double, toil and trouble; fire burn, and cauldron bubble.
Granted, Moonset does not have witches of the kind in Macbeth. But this line came to mind unbidden when I was thinking about the book. Readers won’t find any cauldrons here, but there’s fire and toil, and there’s definitely trouble – all of it centered on the magical legacy left to five teenagers by their parents. Intrigued? I certainly was… and I’m pleased to report that I really enjoyed Moonset! The characters were a bit flat, but the story completely offsets that by being really addicting – so much so that I finished the entire thing in one sitting.
The book shares the story of five teenagers – Justin, Jenna, Malcolm, Cole and Bailey – who are all children of the witches/warlocks who made up the coven of Moonset. Being a part of a coven is technically normal in witch world. But to be associated with Moonset is a scandal, as they’re known as the terrorist coven that used dark magic for their abominable acts. It’s a lot for them to deal with, especially as it leads to being ostracized, feared, and attacked.
The novel follows Justin Daggett, who has two important roles as part of the Moonset coven’s legacy: the peacemaker and the leader. He irons out all the conflicts, and tries to take care of all his siblings (older and younger). He basically is the best representative for Moonset. The variety of problems he faces as a witch, as a teenage boy and as a sibling makes for an interesting mix. I didn’t connect completely with his character, though I certainly sympathized with a lot of what he went through.
What slightly disappointed me about this book, apart from my lack of connection with Justin, was how the characters just didn’t completely pop off the page for me. Justin’s siblings, for instance, are present, but not nearly enough for my tastes. We catch glimpses of them here and there, and get to know them on a surface level. Hopefully, as this is a series, we’ll get an opportunity to get to know them more intimately as the series progresses.
The story, really, is what blew me away about Moonset. Scott Tracey managed to come up with a completely believable set of facts about witches, their history and the world. Through little snippets at the beginning of each chapter, we learn about the coven of Moonset, their actions and what the impact of those actions was. Not only was the history fascinating (and very well-presented), it was also cool that he managed to integrate the current politics of the witch world into the story as well.
There are a few things going on in this book, but the main thing can be broken down into two parts. First, there’s a warlock loose in the town of Carrow Mill and he’s coming after the Moonset kids to recruit them into a second Moonset terrorist coven. This, in itself, is already a terrifying idea, especially when you have to watch the group fight hard against the darkness that threatens to overwhelm them.
Second, there’s the mystery surrounding the history of Moonset and how they began and ended. Justin embarks on a pretty intense, confusing journey to discover new facts, but I thought overall that the reveals were done really well. There’s still a lot we don’t know, of course, but what we do discover by the end is enough to whet my appetite.
I really enjoyed Moonset, even though I wish I could have connected with the characters more. It’s a strong start for the Legacy of Moonset series, with a world that’s unique and nicely executed. I’m very curious about the next adventure that the (new) coven of Moonset finds themselves involved with, and I’m crossing my fingers that we follow the narration of a different character (though there’s nothing wrong with Justin, of course). If witches and strong world-building is your thing, I’d definitely suggest giving Moonset a try.
Double, double, toil and trouble; fire burn, and cauldron bubble.
Granted, Moonset does not have witches of the kind in Macbeth. But this line came to mind unbidden when I was thinking about the book. Readers won’t find any cauldrons here, but there’s fire and toil, and there’s definitely trouble – all of it centered on the magical legacy left to five teenagers by their parents. Intrigued? I certainly was… and I’m pleased to report that I really enjoyed Moonset! The characters were a bit flat, but the story completely offsets that by being really addicting – so much so that I finished the entire thing in one sitting.
The book shares the story of five teenagers – Justin, Jenna, Malcolm, Cole and Bailey – who are all children of the witches/warlocks who made up the coven of Moonset. Being a part of a coven is technically normal in witch world. But to be associated with Moonset is a scandal, as they’re known as the terrorist coven that used dark magic for their abominable acts. It’s a lot for them to deal with, especially as it leads to being ostracized, feared, and attacked.
The novel follows Justin Daggett, who has two important roles as part of the Moonset coven’s legacy: the peacemaker and the leader. He irons out all the conflicts, and tries to take care of all his siblings (older and younger). He basically is the best representative for Moonset. The variety of problems he faces as a witch, as a teenage boy and as a sibling makes for an interesting mix. I didn’t connect completely with his character, though I certainly sympathized with a lot of what he went through.
What slightly disappointed me about this book, apart from my lack of connection with Justin, was how the characters just didn’t completely pop off the page for me. Justin’s siblings, for instance, are present, but not nearly enough for my tastes. We catch glimpses of them here and there, and get to know them on a surface level. Hopefully, as this is a series, we’ll get an opportunity to get to know them more intimately as the series progresses.
The story, really, is what blew me away about Moonset. Scott Tracey managed to come up with a completely believable set of facts about witches, their history and the world. Through little snippets at the beginning of each chapter, we learn about the coven of Moonset, their actions and what the impact of those actions was. Not only was the history fascinating (and very well-presented), it was also cool that he managed to integrate the current politics of the witch world into the story as well.
There are a few things going on in this book, but the main thing can be broken down into two parts. First, there’s a warlock loose in the town of Carrow Mill and he’s coming after the Moonset kids to recruit them into a second Moonset terrorist coven. This, in itself, is already a terrifying idea, especially when you have to watch the group fight hard against the darkness that threatens to overwhelm them.
Second, there’s the mystery surrounding the history of Moonset and how they began and ended. Justin embarks on a pretty intense, confusing journey to discover new facts, but I thought overall that the reveals were done really well. There’s still a lot we don’t know, of course, but what we do discover by the end is enough to whet my appetite.
I really enjoyed Moonset, even though I wish I could have connected with the characters more. It’s a strong start for the Legacy of Moonset series, with a world that’s unique and nicely executed. I’m very curious about the next adventure that the (new) coven of Moonset finds themselves involved with, and I’m crossing my fingers that we follow the narration of a different character (though there’s nothing wrong with Justin, of course). If witches and strong world-building is your thing, I’d definitely suggest giving Moonset a try.
January 31, 2019
Hmmm... I'll be honest, I wanted to really love this book.
It had everything I like: an ensemble cast, a young and world weary protagonist, magic, fights against authority, a subtle manipulation of good and evil, handsome older role model/mentors, family squabbles... It honestly couldn't have been set up later.
And, judged just on its own merits, this was an excellent book. The final antagonist came out of nowhere and kept you guessing until the last page. I looked it up online and was pleased to see a second book. But, what was that? No more after that? This incredible series was cancelled... like a series cut short on Netflix.
Life is too short to get sucked into series that are never going to be completed. So, although I really enjoyed this story, I won't read the next one and I can't suggest it to others.
It had everything I like: an ensemble cast, a young and world weary protagonist, magic, fights against authority, a subtle manipulation of good and evil, handsome older role model/mentors, family squabbles... It honestly couldn't have been set up later.
And, judged just on its own merits, this was an excellent book. The final antagonist came out of nowhere and kept you guessing until the last page. I looked it up online and was pleased to see a second book. But, what was that? No more after that? This incredible series was cancelled... like a series cut short on Netflix.
Life is too short to get sucked into series that are never going to be completed. So, although I really enjoyed this story, I won't read the next one and I can't suggest it to others.
May 21, 2013
I love stories about witches and warlocks. Probably explains my love of Willow on Buffy and Magnus in the TMI and ID series. And I have seriously enjoyed Scott Tracey’s Witch Eyes series. So when I first saw the summary of Moonset I gleefully added its release date to my calendar. Lucky for me, I didn’t have to wait that long. Thank you Net Galley and Flux for giving us the chance to read Moonset before the release date. It was everything I was expecting and hoping for.
When the adults of the Moonset were killed, they left behind five orphans. Five children that have been continuously punished by the Congress for the sins of their parents. Oh, they haven’t been tortured or anything. But they have been neglected. Out of fear, the Congress has never allowed them to learn magic which in turn has left them unable to control the powers they have. They have been moved from town to town, not allowing them to form any friendships outside their coven. And they have had to raise themselves since their guardians only offer careless babysitting services at the very most.
Our hero, Justin Dagget, is a peacekeeper. He is the one person that can keep peace amongst the other children of Moonset. A trait that sometimes makes him tremendously weak and other times extremely strong. With the exception of Malcolm, who seems to be a calm and laid back sort of guy, the other “siblings” are all emotional messes. Bailey has ridiculously strong powers that she sometimes can’t control. That issue doesn’t help her continuous attempts to be one of the popular kids. Cole is socially awkward. That awkwardness gives way to hilarious but inappropriately timed responses to stressful situations. Some of the funniest moments in this book involve Cole. Then there is Jenna. Jenna is Justin’s so-called twin. So-called because they share a father and were born minutes apart. She is Justin’s opposite. She is an instigator and her “in your face” and “kiss my ass” attitude make her seem an obvious target for recruitment to whatever dark forces there are at play. Justin is the glue that holds this motley crew together.
When these five misfits are moved to Carrow Mill, Justin and his siblings find it more difficult than usual to determine who they can trust - which in their case is usually nobody. Strange things begin to happen after their arrival and Justin is lost as to how to protect himself and his brothers and sisters. As Justin begins to pick up pieces of a puzzle he doesn’t understand he needs to find out who in Carrow Mill is there to help them and who is not.
As you can probably tell, I thoroughly enjoyed Moonset. The characters were extremely engaging. The plot kept me glued to every page. And my favorite part is the level of detail Scott Tracey put into developing his story. My favorite examples of this are the quotes in the beginning of each chapter. Instead of choosing existing quotes from our world, each chapter is headed by quotes from the fallen Moonset coven and testimonials from numerous books and files written and compiled after the fall of Moonset. These are all fictional non-fiction and tell another piece of the story that isn’t necessarily included in what we read from Justin’s point of view.
I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for the next installment in the story. Scott Tracey has yet again delivered on a great book that everyone will enjoy.
Nat
When the adults of the Moonset were killed, they left behind five orphans. Five children that have been continuously punished by the Congress for the sins of their parents. Oh, they haven’t been tortured or anything. But they have been neglected. Out of fear, the Congress has never allowed them to learn magic which in turn has left them unable to control the powers they have. They have been moved from town to town, not allowing them to form any friendships outside their coven. And they have had to raise themselves since their guardians only offer careless babysitting services at the very most.
Our hero, Justin Dagget, is a peacekeeper. He is the one person that can keep peace amongst the other children of Moonset. A trait that sometimes makes him tremendously weak and other times extremely strong. With the exception of Malcolm, who seems to be a calm and laid back sort of guy, the other “siblings” are all emotional messes. Bailey has ridiculously strong powers that she sometimes can’t control. That issue doesn’t help her continuous attempts to be one of the popular kids. Cole is socially awkward. That awkwardness gives way to hilarious but inappropriately timed responses to stressful situations. Some of the funniest moments in this book involve Cole. Then there is Jenna. Jenna is Justin’s so-called twin. So-called because they share a father and were born minutes apart. She is Justin’s opposite. She is an instigator and her “in your face” and “kiss my ass” attitude make her seem an obvious target for recruitment to whatever dark forces there are at play. Justin is the glue that holds this motley crew together.
When these five misfits are moved to Carrow Mill, Justin and his siblings find it more difficult than usual to determine who they can trust - which in their case is usually nobody. Strange things begin to happen after their arrival and Justin is lost as to how to protect himself and his brothers and sisters. As Justin begins to pick up pieces of a puzzle he doesn’t understand he needs to find out who in Carrow Mill is there to help them and who is not.
As you can probably tell, I thoroughly enjoyed Moonset. The characters were extremely engaging. The plot kept me glued to every page. And my favorite part is the level of detail Scott Tracey put into developing his story. My favorite examples of this are the quotes in the beginning of each chapter. Instead of choosing existing quotes from our world, each chapter is headed by quotes from the fallen Moonset coven and testimonials from numerous books and files written and compiled after the fall of Moonset. These are all fictional non-fiction and tell another piece of the story that isn’t necessarily included in what we read from Justin’s point of view.
I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for the next installment in the story. Scott Tracey has yet again delivered on a great book that everyone will enjoy.
Nat
March 31, 2013
3.5 stars
Moonset is a book that I was eager to read because I´ve read the other witches trilogy by Scott Tracey - Witch Eyes and I really like it a lot, so when I saw he was going to make another series or trilogy, immediately add it to my TBR list, and although I did not like it as much as Witch Eyes, Moonset story is very interesting and intriguing.
Moonset tells the story of Justin Daggett a seventeen years-old witch and along with his four foster siblings, had been raised by the witch Congress, a Congress that fear them and hate them because they are the children of dark witches that 15 years ago were at war against Congress and committed several terrorist acts that killed many witches and almost finished with the congress. But for some unknown reason, the coven Moonset surrendered and the whole coven was executed, leaving behind five infants, which are called Moonset. Justin and his siblings are feared because the congress fear that they will form a new coven as dangerous as that of their parents, so as part of their education they only are taught harmless spells and history about all the bad that the Moonset coven did.
The story is told from the point of view of Justin, which I liked very much, because I prefer books with male POV. Justin is the middle child, but because he´s really patient, easy-going and is always concerned about others, he´s something like the leader of the group. He and his siblings have not lived in one place for more than a few months, in fact they have moved seven times in the last three years and in every place they´ve a new guardian, appointed by the witch congress. And at the beginning of the book they move to Carrow Mill, a small town that seems to be more connected to the coven Moonset of what they expected.
Among the secondary characters are Justin´s siblings, Malcolm is the older brother, he's athletic and dislikes magic, indeed he´s the least interested in learning magic and he just wants a normal life. Then is Jenna, she´s Justin´s twin sister, she´s a trouble maker, impulsive, rebellious and is constantly angry. Then is Cole, he´s funny and very talkative and finally we´ve Bailey youngest of the siblings, she is fifteen years-old and she´s the emotional one and the one that get attached to people and places. And then there's Quinn, the new guardian of Justin and Jenna, he´s is a young witch who might be the only one in the world interested in the welfare of the Moonset siblings.
Moonset has an interesting plot, a bit predictable, but I really enjoy the book but sometimes I felt a bit of déjà vu as it reminded me of other books, but overall I liked it! and I can´t wait to read the next book because I want to know a little more about the history of the coven Moonset and about Justin's parents.
Moonset is a book that I was eager to read because I´ve read the other witches trilogy by Scott Tracey - Witch Eyes and I really like it a lot, so when I saw he was going to make another series or trilogy, immediately add it to my TBR list, and although I did not like it as much as Witch Eyes, Moonset story is very interesting and intriguing.
Moonset tells the story of Justin Daggett a seventeen years-old witch and along with his four foster siblings, had been raised by the witch Congress, a Congress that fear them and hate them because they are the children of dark witches that 15 years ago were at war against Congress and committed several terrorist acts that killed many witches and almost finished with the congress. But for some unknown reason, the coven Moonset surrendered and the whole coven was executed, leaving behind five infants, which are called Moonset. Justin and his siblings are feared because the congress fear that they will form a new coven as dangerous as that of their parents, so as part of their education they only are taught harmless spells and history about all the bad that the Moonset coven did.
The story is told from the point of view of Justin, which I liked very much, because I prefer books with male POV. Justin is the middle child, but because he´s really patient, easy-going and is always concerned about others, he´s something like the leader of the group. He and his siblings have not lived in one place for more than a few months, in fact they have moved seven times in the last three years and in every place they´ve a new guardian, appointed by the witch congress. And at the beginning of the book they move to Carrow Mill, a small town that seems to be more connected to the coven Moonset of what they expected.
Among the secondary characters are Justin´s siblings, Malcolm is the older brother, he's athletic and dislikes magic, indeed he´s the least interested in learning magic and he just wants a normal life. Then is Jenna, she´s Justin´s twin sister, she´s a trouble maker, impulsive, rebellious and is constantly angry. Then is Cole, he´s funny and very talkative and finally we´ve Bailey youngest of the siblings, she is fifteen years-old and she´s the emotional one and the one that get attached to people and places. And then there's Quinn, the new guardian of Justin and Jenna, he´s is a young witch who might be the only one in the world interested in the welfare of the Moonset siblings.
Moonset has an interesting plot, a bit predictable, but I really enjoy the book but sometimes I felt a bit of déjà vu as it reminded me of other books, but overall I liked it! and I can´t wait to read the next book because I want to know a little more about the history of the coven Moonset and about Justin's parents.
May 8, 2013
Moonset was such a different take on the classic witch and warlock tale and I loved that about it the most. I loved that it was fresh and not the run on the mill tale. I think what I loved the most is that the main character was a teen boy who was just trying to find his way in life and this world. I feel like we don't get as much insight into the male world and don't get enough male characters in books but Justin more than makes up for that. Justin was more like a cool friend you would have who just happened to be a little bit different. The author wrote him so well and picked up on all his insecurities and weaknesses but still showed the amazing amount of strength he had. Oh my the town of Carrow Mill was so cool too.
Carrow Mill reminded me of a quaint little town and one that I think I would enjoy living in. The author had such great and vivid descriptions that I could really picture this town and the people in it. I loved that they seemed like such a close knit community and still welcomed outsiders in although the schools could have been more desirable. I hated that the Moonset kids were basically made to feel like outsiders in the school. I hated that everyone was so afraid of what they would do and that they were still be held responsible for the crimes their parents committed. I don't think anyone should have to deal with any of that. Although on the flip side of that the author had such well written and strong characters that the Moonset kids handled all this really well and it made me love them even more. I have to say that I loved that the kids at least had someone on their side in the form of Quinn. He really helped them learn and become stronger even though he wasn't supposed to. I found myself rooting for him to be one of the good guys in the midst of all the bad ones that were around them.
The author ramps up the action big time in the second half of the book and found myself glued to it because I had to see how it would all end. There were a few plot twists thrown in that I didn't see coming or expect and they threw me for a loop but in a good way that had me even more invested in this story. I for one can't wait for the next book in what is sure to be a great series. I loved the action, a little bit of romance that was mixed in and the awesome characters that all combined for a fantastic read. I highly recommend this one to others and think you really need to pickup a copy if you haven't already.
I received a copy of this for review from the Publisher.
Carrow Mill reminded me of a quaint little town and one that I think I would enjoy living in. The author had such great and vivid descriptions that I could really picture this town and the people in it. I loved that they seemed like such a close knit community and still welcomed outsiders in although the schools could have been more desirable. I hated that the Moonset kids were basically made to feel like outsiders in the school. I hated that everyone was so afraid of what they would do and that they were still be held responsible for the crimes their parents committed. I don't think anyone should have to deal with any of that. Although on the flip side of that the author had such well written and strong characters that the Moonset kids handled all this really well and it made me love them even more. I have to say that I loved that the kids at least had someone on their side in the form of Quinn. He really helped them learn and become stronger even though he wasn't supposed to. I found myself rooting for him to be one of the good guys in the midst of all the bad ones that were around them.
The author ramps up the action big time in the second half of the book and found myself glued to it because I had to see how it would all end. There were a few plot twists thrown in that I didn't see coming or expect and they threw me for a loop but in a good way that had me even more invested in this story. I for one can't wait for the next book in what is sure to be a great series. I loved the action, a little bit of romance that was mixed in and the awesome characters that all combined for a fantastic read. I highly recommend this one to others and think you really need to pickup a copy if you haven't already.
I received a copy of this for review from the Publisher.
April 2, 2013
First off I want to say THANK you to the publishing company and Rockstar Blog Tour for having me on this tour!
Magic, a little Romance, Adventure and excitement and so much more all wrapped in one! Justin is not a normal boy, oh no he is a witch and not just him but his sister and the 3 closes friends he has had his while life. One of the reasons Justin and the others have been so close is because they are the offspring of wicked warlocks that were once a part of a coven named Moonset. A war began between Moonset and the Congress, and in the end Moonset lost but there was a lot of devastation to the magical population during the war and in that they left behind their children. Now the group of five have kept close and have been there for each other through it all while carrying the weight of being the offspring of Moonset. The group has always had a close eye kept on them and has been only been thought minimal magic. Now the group has moved to a new location and will be starting yet another school. But things don’t go very well, and things keep happening and no one is telling Justin or the others what’s going on. Since the start Justin has been the leader of the group and now he needs to find out what’s happening and why no one will tell them anything.
I did enjoy all the action in this one and the fact that is was told form a boy’s point of view, Justin! He is a strong character who has to take on a lot and lead the group he is now grown to known has his only family. His twin, Jenna, well lets say I like her. I like that she takes action and cares for the others so much. I really enjoyed that. The rest of the group consists of Cole one of the youngest and an awesome character to just love. Bailey who is the youngest and so cute and she is still trying to find her way. Last, there is Malcolm and he is the oldest of the group, and he is defiantly laid back. I really have to say I loved the entire five in this group they all gave there little something to the story line and the way the story flowed!
I really enjoyed the story start to finish and loved how there was so much information about the covens and how they all work with each other. For a story about magic I never felt let down and lost. Tracey did a great job keeping me hooked never losing me through out! I will be excited for the next and for more from all the awesome characters Tracey introduces in this one. Maybe we will get more books form each of the Moonset children?! Hey you never know!
Magic, a little Romance, Adventure and excitement and so much more all wrapped in one! Justin is not a normal boy, oh no he is a witch and not just him but his sister and the 3 closes friends he has had his while life. One of the reasons Justin and the others have been so close is because they are the offspring of wicked warlocks that were once a part of a coven named Moonset. A war began between Moonset and the Congress, and in the end Moonset lost but there was a lot of devastation to the magical population during the war and in that they left behind their children. Now the group of five have kept close and have been there for each other through it all while carrying the weight of being the offspring of Moonset. The group has always had a close eye kept on them and has been only been thought minimal magic. Now the group has moved to a new location and will be starting yet another school. But things don’t go very well, and things keep happening and no one is telling Justin or the others what’s going on. Since the start Justin has been the leader of the group and now he needs to find out what’s happening and why no one will tell them anything.
I did enjoy all the action in this one and the fact that is was told form a boy’s point of view, Justin! He is a strong character who has to take on a lot and lead the group he is now grown to known has his only family. His twin, Jenna, well lets say I like her. I like that she takes action and cares for the others so much. I really enjoyed that. The rest of the group consists of Cole one of the youngest and an awesome character to just love. Bailey who is the youngest and so cute and she is still trying to find her way. Last, there is Malcolm and he is the oldest of the group, and he is defiantly laid back. I really have to say I loved the entire five in this group they all gave there little something to the story line and the way the story flowed!
I really enjoyed the story start to finish and loved how there was so much information about the covens and how they all work with each other. For a story about magic I never felt let down and lost. Tracey did a great job keeping me hooked never losing me through out! I will be excited for the next and for more from all the awesome characters Tracey introduces in this one. Maybe we will get more books form each of the Moonset children?! Hey you never know!
March 30, 2013
3.5 Stars!
This is the first book by Tracey I have read so I wasn't sure what to expect. Really I picked up this book because of the synopsis. Who doesn't love a good story filled with mystery, danger, curses, ghosts and witches? I couldn't of picked a better book to try by this author because I truly enjoyed it. I really liked his writing style and the fact that this was told from the male POV of Justin. I have said this before but it bares saying again, there just aren't enough books in the YA genre told through the male POV.
I liked Justin, I liked being inside his head. He had a strong voice without being overbearing or too loud. He felt very real to me. I could see his protective side when he was with his siblings and although he didn't know it, I could see the leader in him too. I love how his character grew throughout the story and the strong leader he became by the end.
This had a few twists I didn't see coming and few that I did. I enjoyed all of the chapters starting off with either a journal entry from one of the members of Moonset, from a Counsel member or from a news article. It added something interesting and sometimes insightful to the storyline.
My only real complaint is that I wish there would have been a little more background info on the world Justin lives in. I knew most humans didn't know about the existence of magic and witches, but did the government? Did higher ups at the schools? It wasn't anything huge just something I wondered throughout the story and was never made clear. I am guessing they didn't but, again, I may be wrong since that is just a guess.
I do wish there would have been a little more background on Justin's parents, especially is father but again, that is something we seem to be learning along the way right along with Justin. And as Justin has already found out, some of the things he is learning are things he never guessed possible. Things that may change how he looks at them forever.
Really I think this was done well and I will definitely be continuing on with the series. I was intrigued enough to want more and to find out all the questions that were left unanswered about Moonset, covens, the Counsel and Justin's parents in general. Plus, with an ending like that one, how could I not want to find out what happens next?
http://myguiltyobsession.blogspot.com...
This is the first book by Tracey I have read so I wasn't sure what to expect. Really I picked up this book because of the synopsis. Who doesn't love a good story filled with mystery, danger, curses, ghosts and witches? I couldn't of picked a better book to try by this author because I truly enjoyed it. I really liked his writing style and the fact that this was told from the male POV of Justin. I have said this before but it bares saying again, there just aren't enough books in the YA genre told through the male POV.
I liked Justin, I liked being inside his head. He had a strong voice without being overbearing or too loud. He felt very real to me. I could see his protective side when he was with his siblings and although he didn't know it, I could see the leader in him too. I love how his character grew throughout the story and the strong leader he became by the end.
This had a few twists I didn't see coming and few that I did. I enjoyed all of the chapters starting off with either a journal entry from one of the members of Moonset, from a Counsel member or from a news article. It added something interesting and sometimes insightful to the storyline.
My only real complaint is that I wish there would have been a little more background info on the world Justin lives in. I knew most humans didn't know about the existence of magic and witches, but did the government? Did higher ups at the schools? It wasn't anything huge just something I wondered throughout the story and was never made clear. I am guessing they didn't but, again, I may be wrong since that is just a guess.
I do wish there would have been a little more background on Justin's parents, especially is father but again, that is something we seem to be learning along the way right along with Justin. And as Justin has already found out, some of the things he is learning are things he never guessed possible. Things that may change how he looks at them forever.
Really I think this was done well and I will definitely be continuing on with the series. I was intrigued enough to want more and to find out all the questions that were left unanswered about Moonset, covens, the Counsel and Justin's parents in general. Plus, with an ending like that one, how could I not want to find out what happens next?
http://myguiltyobsession.blogspot.com...
December 31, 2012
Moonset is a new series about teenage witches and their dysfunctional family and a mysterious legacy.
Justin Daggett, his trouble-making sister Jenna, and their three orphan-witch friends/siblings, Malcolm, Bailey, and Cole, have gotten themselves kicked out of high school once again. The Congress (no, not that one) has to step in and relocate them to another new town. For some reason, they are moved to Carrow Mills, New York, the town where their parents—members of the terrorist witch organization known as Moonset—began their evil experiments with the dark arts, known as Maleficia, fifteen years ago. Justin’s parents, in fact, were the leaders and were executed.
They have Witchers assigned to supervise them; the leader is Quinn, who just happens to be the son of Justin’s parents executor, Illana Bryer. The town seems a bit off, and strange things are continually happening. Justin finally gets a girlfriend, Ash, which brings some welcome happiness to his life. However, the kids come to believe that they were moved to Carrow Mills as bait for the remaining members of Moonset.
The siblings are accused of unleashing black magic on the town, and they must prove their innocence. This leads Justin to learn a shocking discovery about Moonset’s past . . . and its deadly future.
Moonset has humor in addition to all the elements of a YA horror story. It also reminded me of The Unfortunate Events series because of the sibling relationships, I suppose. The magic and spells also had a bit of Harry Potter in it. On the other hand, it is probably difficult to write a book about magic and witches without reminding the reader of Harry. Also, there were so many names and terms for the people in the Congress and Moonset that it got a bit confusing. Another confusing element was that I didn’t realize until the 3rd or 4th chapter that Justin, the narrator, was a boy. I thought the story was being narrating by a girl. Maybe I just wasn’t paying close enough attention. Otherwise, there really wasn’t anything fresh in this book; the mild humor was its saving grace.
Its ending - and its title - promises sequels. It might be interesting to see what Justin, Jenna, Malcolm, and the others - and we - learn about this paranormal battle.
Scott Tracey’s first novel, WITCH EYES, was listed as a YALSA Popular Paperback for 2011, and an Amazon Best of 2011 book in the LGBT category. DEMON EYES is his latest release.
Justin Daggett, his trouble-making sister Jenna, and their three orphan-witch friends/siblings, Malcolm, Bailey, and Cole, have gotten themselves kicked out of high school once again. The Congress (no, not that one) has to step in and relocate them to another new town. For some reason, they are moved to Carrow Mills, New York, the town where their parents—members of the terrorist witch organization known as Moonset—began their evil experiments with the dark arts, known as Maleficia, fifteen years ago. Justin’s parents, in fact, were the leaders and were executed.
They have Witchers assigned to supervise them; the leader is Quinn, who just happens to be the son of Justin’s parents executor, Illana Bryer. The town seems a bit off, and strange things are continually happening. Justin finally gets a girlfriend, Ash, which brings some welcome happiness to his life. However, the kids come to believe that they were moved to Carrow Mills as bait for the remaining members of Moonset.
The siblings are accused of unleashing black magic on the town, and they must prove their innocence. This leads Justin to learn a shocking discovery about Moonset’s past . . . and its deadly future.
Moonset has humor in addition to all the elements of a YA horror story. It also reminded me of The Unfortunate Events series because of the sibling relationships, I suppose. The magic and spells also had a bit of Harry Potter in it. On the other hand, it is probably difficult to write a book about magic and witches without reminding the reader of Harry. Also, there were so many names and terms for the people in the Congress and Moonset that it got a bit confusing. Another confusing element was that I didn’t realize until the 3rd or 4th chapter that Justin, the narrator, was a boy. I thought the story was being narrating by a girl. Maybe I just wasn’t paying close enough attention. Otherwise, there really wasn’t anything fresh in this book; the mild humor was its saving grace.
Its ending - and its title - promises sequels. It might be interesting to see what Justin, Jenna, Malcolm, and the others - and we - learn about this paranormal battle.
Scott Tracey’s first novel, WITCH EYES, was listed as a YALSA Popular Paperback for 2011, and an Amazon Best of 2011 book in the LGBT category. DEMON EYES is his latest release.
April 4, 2013
3.5 stars
To see my full review:
http://wp.me/p1jhaj-35O
This is a very intriguing story full of witchcraft and half-truths. Justin and his adoptive family of five have grown up learning that their heritage is one of debauchery and deceit. As the children of Moonset, they have been feared all their lives, shifted from one home to the next, treated like prisoners, and all for a good cause, according to Justin, who doesn’t want to turn out to be anything like his parents. However, not all is as it seems, and when the teens realize their safety is the last item on the Congress’ list, Justin and his family must fight back or meet the same end as their parents.
I have a real problem with adults that treat children/teens badly. And that’s all Justin and his family have ever known, really. The Congress has constantly moved them around, made comments about wishing they would have died alongside their parents, and stood back as entities threatened the teens, only stepping in at the last moment. I was heated throughout much of this novel, just like Justin, and while I do enjoy novels that give me strong emotions, I was so angry at the adults, and even some of the Moonset children, that it kind of took some of the fun out of this novel. No child/teen/adult should ever be treated the way these teens are treated—made fun of (by peers AND adults who are supposed to protect them), made to fend for themselves, refused help or training for protection, using them as pawns to draw out evil, constantly belittling them. Ugh. It sets my teeth on edge just thinking back on the story, and my shoulders are so tense right now it hurts.
Yes, the teens are the children of Moonset, but that doesn’t mean they’ll turn out just like their parents. In fact, the way the Congress treats them pushes them more towards acting out like their parents than if the Congress had been loving and caring from the very beginning… but then again, does the Congress want them to turn into their parents?? Perhaps… Tracey spreads a great message in this novel, one that speaks to the treatment of others as well as the fact that, regardless of our parentage, we are our own beings. And what I really liked about this novel is that, along the way, we realize that maybe, just maybe, Moonset wasn’t exactly what they’ve been chalked up to be. And neither is the Congress.
To see my full review:
http://wp.me/p1jhaj-35O
This is a very intriguing story full of witchcraft and half-truths. Justin and his adoptive family of five have grown up learning that their heritage is one of debauchery and deceit. As the children of Moonset, they have been feared all their lives, shifted from one home to the next, treated like prisoners, and all for a good cause, according to Justin, who doesn’t want to turn out to be anything like his parents. However, not all is as it seems, and when the teens realize their safety is the last item on the Congress’ list, Justin and his family must fight back or meet the same end as their parents.
I have a real problem with adults that treat children/teens badly. And that’s all Justin and his family have ever known, really. The Congress has constantly moved them around, made comments about wishing they would have died alongside their parents, and stood back as entities threatened the teens, only stepping in at the last moment. I was heated throughout much of this novel, just like Justin, and while I do enjoy novels that give me strong emotions, I was so angry at the adults, and even some of the Moonset children, that it kind of took some of the fun out of this novel. No child/teen/adult should ever be treated the way these teens are treated—made fun of (by peers AND adults who are supposed to protect them), made to fend for themselves, refused help or training for protection, using them as pawns to draw out evil, constantly belittling them. Ugh. It sets my teeth on edge just thinking back on the story, and my shoulders are so tense right now it hurts.
Yes, the teens are the children of Moonset, but that doesn’t mean they’ll turn out just like their parents. In fact, the way the Congress treats them pushes them more towards acting out like their parents than if the Congress had been loving and caring from the very beginning… but then again, does the Congress want them to turn into their parents?? Perhaps… Tracey spreads a great message in this novel, one that speaks to the treatment of others as well as the fact that, regardless of our parentage, we are our own beings. And what I really liked about this novel is that, along the way, we realize that maybe, just maybe, Moonset wasn’t exactly what they’ve been chalked up to be. And neither is the Congress.
November 29, 2024
Scott Tracey’s Moonset is a captivating start to a series that combines witchcraft, family drama, and high-stakes danger in a way that’s both fresh and compelling. The story centers on Justin and his siblings, the orphaned children of a notorious coven responsible for widespread destruction. As they’re relocated to a new town under constant suspicion and scrutiny, they must grapple with the legacy of their infamous parents while navigating their own magical abilities—and a sinister threat lurking in the shadows.
The strongest aspect of Moonset is the complex sibling dynamic. Tracey does an excellent job of portraying the messy, imperfect love between Justin and his brothers and sisters. Their shared trauma and differing personalities create plenty of tension, but also moments of genuine connection that make you care deeply about their fate. Justin, as the narrator, is easy to root for, balancing snarky humor with vulnerability as he tries to keep his fractured family together.
The world-building is another highlight. The rules of magic and the shadowy political structure of the witching world feel fully realized, with plenty of room for expansion in future books. Tracey introduces just enough lore to intrigue without overwhelming, keeping the focus on the characters and the immediate mystery.
The plot moves at a brisk pace, with plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting. However, some moments feel a little rushed, especially when it comes to explaining the backstory of Moonset, the infamous coven. I wanted a deeper dive into their history and the fallout of their actions, which felt like it could have added even more depth to the story.
Despite a few minor pacing issues, Moonset is a dark, gripping YA fantasy with plenty of heart. If you enjoy books with magic, mystery, and a side of sibling drama, this is one you’ll want to check out. I’m excited to see where the series goes next!
The strongest aspect of Moonset is the complex sibling dynamic. Tracey does an excellent job of portraying the messy, imperfect love between Justin and his brothers and sisters. Their shared trauma and differing personalities create plenty of tension, but also moments of genuine connection that make you care deeply about their fate. Justin, as the narrator, is easy to root for, balancing snarky humor with vulnerability as he tries to keep his fractured family together.
The world-building is another highlight. The rules of magic and the shadowy political structure of the witching world feel fully realized, with plenty of room for expansion in future books. Tracey introduces just enough lore to intrigue without overwhelming, keeping the focus on the characters and the immediate mystery.
The plot moves at a brisk pace, with plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting. However, some moments feel a little rushed, especially when it comes to explaining the backstory of Moonset, the infamous coven. I wanted a deeper dive into their history and the fallout of their actions, which felt like it could have added even more depth to the story.
Despite a few minor pacing issues, Moonset is a dark, gripping YA fantasy with plenty of heart. If you enjoy books with magic, mystery, and a side of sibling drama, this is one you’ll want to check out. I’m excited to see where the series goes next!
April 1, 2013
The story is told by Justin, the son of the leader of Moonset. He is the peacekeeper, trying desperately to keep his twin sister, Jenna, from wrecking things everywhere they go. But now their lives are on the line, something is coming from them and the more they learn about their parents and the town of Carrow Mill, the more secrets they try to uncover. Justin will have to step up, will have to break the rules, if he has any chance of keeping his family safe.
What I really liked about this story was the politics angle. It does a good job of showing how the covens interact with their governing body, and how people can do terrible things for the greater good. The world building is deep and interesting, with a cool twist on how magic works.
Character wise, I would have liked to see a little more development of the side characters. Don’t get me wrong, they all have distinct… I hesitate to say personalities, archetypes? I'd have liked for Jenna to be more than just the troublemaker. For Malcolm to be more than just the gay gym bunny who shies away from using magic. For Cole to be more than the hyperactive disciple to Jenna. For Bailey to be more than the sweet little girl who only wants a pet and to make friends. Considering how tight knit the family unit of these five teens are, I expected Justin to give them a bit more screen time. The only side characters to get a more in depth treatment are Quinn, the current guardian, and Ash, the love interest. And the only reason why they get that depth is because it bumps Justin’s own development as a character.
That said, I quite enjoyed the book. It slows down significantly in parts, but at no point did I wish for a hardcopy so I could throw it across the room. I will probably pick up the next book in the series to see how the story progresses. I am kind of hoping the books will switch up POVs so I can get to know the other Moonset siblings better.
What I really liked about this story was the politics angle. It does a good job of showing how the covens interact with their governing body, and how people can do terrible things for the greater good. The world building is deep and interesting, with a cool twist on how magic works.
Character wise, I would have liked to see a little more development of the side characters. Don’t get me wrong, they all have distinct… I hesitate to say personalities, archetypes? I'd have liked for Jenna to be more than just the troublemaker. For Malcolm to be more than just the gay gym bunny who shies away from using magic. For Cole to be more than the hyperactive disciple to Jenna. For Bailey to be more than the sweet little girl who only wants a pet and to make friends. Considering how tight knit the family unit of these five teens are, I expected Justin to give them a bit more screen time. The only side characters to get a more in depth treatment are Quinn, the current guardian, and Ash, the love interest. And the only reason why they get that depth is because it bumps Justin’s own development as a character.
That said, I quite enjoyed the book. It slows down significantly in parts, but at no point did I wish for a hardcopy so I could throw it across the room. I will probably pick up the next book in the series to see how the story progresses. I am kind of hoping the books will switch up POVs so I can get to know the other Moonset siblings better.
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